Battles between the pro-government forces and the Houthi militants resumed on Thursday marking the collapse of a seven-day ceasefire in Yemen.
Local sources said clashes and rocket shelling by both sides took place in the provinces of Marib, Taiz, Jawf and Baidha on the third day of the fragile ceasefire which coincided with the launch of UN-brokered peace talks in Switzerland.
Breaches of the truce were reported in the first two days in Taiz where several civilians were killed in Houthi shelling, Marib and areas on border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Today, reports said fierce clashes erupted between Saudi forces and Houthis on the border. The Saudi army heavily pounded Houthi positions, the reports said, without confirming whether the coalition carried airstrikes or not.
The coalition has been bombing Yemen and backing the pro-government fighters since March. When Yemenis began the talks on Tuesday, it declared a seven-day suspension of its military operations in the country.
However, spokesperson, Ahmed Asiri, warned on Wednesday the truce was on the brink of collapse because of Houthi violations.
Meanwhile, TVs said there has been no breakthrough from the talks except a deal to allow a resumption of humanitarian assistance primarily to Taiz.
The reports said the Houthi representatives are not serious and have not demonstrated commitment to what they had agreed to before going to the talks.
The Yemenis have not yet agreed on priorities for ending the conflict and addressing its impacts including the release of prisoners including defense minister Mahmoud Al-Subaihi, TVs said.
Al-Subaihi was arrested along with senior military commanders during the battles for southern regions.
In this context, the Houthi group and the southern resistance swapped prisoners which blocked on Wednesday.
Well-informed sources said the swap of around 300 prisoners, 150 from each side, occurred early Thursday in the province of Lahj.