The Yemeni forces and the Saudi-led coalition launched an offensive to retake the province of Taiz from the Houthi militants and their loyalists, a senior military official told TVs on Monday.
Chief of the fourth military command, Ahmed Al-Yafi'e, said the offensive aims to lift the blockade on Taiz which was imposed by the militants months ago and then clearing the province from the militants.
"The offensive is underway from three directions. So far, reinforcements from the coalition have already arrived at the southern and the western gates of the province," he said, pointing out that the offensive will pave the way for advancing towards the capital Sanaa.
In addition, the coalition carried out heavy airstrikes against the militants as part of its support to the offensive, he added.
Lately, the battles between the pro-government forces and the militants have raged in key parts of Taiz including Al-Waziyah as the coalition deployed Arab troops and heavy equipment in support of the Yemeni forces.
In the past 24 hours, the battles continued to escalate in the districts of Al-Waziyah and Sabir with dozens of fighters from both sides killed and injured.
Houthi media said at least 50 pro-government forces and tribal backers were killed in the Waziyah battles.
Sources within the pro-government popular resistance said around only five soldiers and resistance fighters were killed in the battles.
As a war tactic several months ago, the militants imposed a blockade on Taiz preventing all commodities from reaching the people.
It coincided with repeated mortar attacks by the militants mostly on populated areas as well as battles with the pro-government forces and resistance.
The conflict started after the Houthis had ousted the UN-backed government. It sparked the Saudi-led military intervention in late March.
During May, June and July, the coalition helped the Yemeni forces to retake southern regions from the militants and forces loyal to the former president.
Today, the battles between the government forces and the militants continued in other provinces including Dhali, Jawf and Marib.
They coincided with Arab airstrikes in the capital Sanaa, the border provinces of Saada and Amran.