At least 17 civilians including children were killed and dozens of others injured in shelling by the Houthi militants in Yemen's province of Taiz, medical sources said on Wednesday.
Many are in critical condition at a time when provincial hospitals are facing big challenges topped by a lack of medicines, they added.
The shelling coincided with continuing battles between the national forces and the militants in key areas amid reports militant groups have lately emerged and become active in the city.
Many civilians have been killed and injured in attacks on populated areas by the Houthi militants in the city in recent months.
On Tuesday, reports said the Saudi-led coalition plans to deploy troops to help the Yemeni forces drive the militants out of Taiz and Marib where battles have been raging for weeks.
The coalition has been bombing the Houthis since March. Lately, it deployed thousands of troops and large equipment that joined the battle against the Houthis in Marib.
On the other hand, military sources revealed that national and coalition forces repelled an attack on the district of Lawder in the southern province of Abyan.
A key military brigade was seized by the Houthis in Abyan two days ago, the sources revealed.
The national forces with support from the coalition have retaken most of southern regions lately.