At least 80 people, most soldiers, have been killed as battles raged between the troops and the Houthi insurgents in Yemen's northern Saada province.
According to military sources the insurgents were besieging the Old Razeh Airport and all the area.
The sources, however, said military reinforcements were on their way to the battlegrounds.
The rebels launched a surprise attack from three directions on the airport, where, according to military sources, large quantities of weapons were stored that were said to be sufficient for six months of fighting.
In the district of Harf Sufyan in neighboring Amran province more than 50 volunteer pro-government tribal fighters were killed in the battles with the Houthi followers, according to the News Yemen website.
The website also reported that air raids by the Yemeni warplanes have reached Saudi territory affecting a medical clinic in Jazan.
The clinic was badly damaged and civilians, nurses and medial doctors were hurt.
The accident took place as an air strike aimed the Houthi rebels were wrongly fired.