150 Yemen rebels killed in strikes

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said yesterday it had killed 150 Huthi rebels near the strategic city of Marib, which would raise the rebel death toll to over 1,100 in a week.

Air strikes "destroyed 13 military vehicles and killed 150 terrorist elements" in Abdiya within the past 24 hours, the coalition said in a statement carried by the official SPA agency.

The Iran-backed Huthis rarely comment on losses, and the tolls could not be independently verified by AFP.

In a televised speech yesterday, rebel leader Abdelmalek al-Huthi called for continued fighting, as tens of thousands of supporters marched in towns held by the insurgents.