SANAA, 20 October 2021, (TON): This is the ninth consecutive day that the coalition has announced strikes around Marib, reporting a total of more than 1,200 rebel fatalities

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said “it killed 48 Houthi rebels in air strikes on two districts near the strategic city of Marib, during intense fighting this week.”

The Iran-backed Houthis rarely comment on losses, and the numbers could not be independently verified by media.

This is the ninth consecutive day that the coalition has announced strikes around Marib, reporting a total of more than 1,200 rebel fatalities.

The previously announced bombings were in Abdiya about 100 kilometres from Marib -- the internationally recognised government's last bastion in oil-rich northern Yemen.

The strikes reported Tuesday were closer to Marib.

"Operations targeted six military vehicles and killed 48 terrorist elements" in the past 24 hours in the districts of Al-Jawba and Al-Kassara, the coalition said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Al-Jawba lies about 50 kilometres from the city and Al-Kassara is about 30 kilometres northwest.