MARIB, 10 February, 2021 (TON): A government official said, two massive explosions hit Yemen’s Marib, the capital as the violence continued.

 “Two massive explosions caused by ballistic missiles fired by the Houthi rebels against the densely populated city of Marib, with no casualties,” the official told the media on Tuesday.

The two Houthi-fired ballistic missiles landed on an empty area near a government facility in Marib, he added.

Consecutively, for the third day, the southern and western areas of Marib are witnessing battles, causing dozens dead and injuries.

 “Nearly 30 soldiers were critically injured in today’s fighting and are receiving treatment at the medical center,” sources at Marib’s public hospital said.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensified their military operations and carried out a large offensive against the city controlled by the Yemeni government in the past two days.

Earlier in the day, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths expressed concern over renewed attacks.

“Extremely concerned about the resumption of hostilities in the governorate of Marib by Ansar Allah (Houthi rebel group), especially at a time of renewed diplomatic momentum to end the war in Yemen and resume the political process,” Griffiths tweeted.

“A negotiated political settlement that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people is the only sustainable solution to end this conflict,” the UN envoy noted.

Since late 2014, Yemen has been under civil war, when the Houthi militia seized control over several Northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.