Saudi coalition: Air strikes kill scores more of Yemen's Houthis near Marib

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has announced a new death toll of 125 Houthi rebels in its latest strikes around Marib, the last remaining government bastion in the north.

The coalition said on Thursday the rebels were killed in "22 operations targeting vehicles and militia members" over the previous 24 hours, the Saudi state news agency reported. 

According to the coalition, the operations took place in Sirwah to the east of Marib city and Al Bayda province to the south and also destroyed 14 military vehicles.

The Saudi-led coalition has been reporting high death tolls in almost daily strikes since October amid a campaign to prevent the rebels from capturing the strategic northern city.

The Houthis rarely comment on the tolls, which have surpassed 3,000 in total according to coalition figures. AFP cannot independently verify these numbers.

Earlier on Thursday, the coalition said it conducted "air strikes on legitimate military targets in Sanaa and Saada (in the north) including sites for ballistic missiles, drones and weapons depots" belonging to the Houthis.

READ MORE: Will the Houthi push to usurp Marib imperil Yemen's conflict resolution?

Worst humanitarian crisis

The coalition intervened militarily in 2015 to prop up the internationally recognised Yemeni government after the Iran-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa the year before.

Since the start of the conflict, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced, precipitating what the UN has described as the "world's worst humanitarian crisis".

UN special envoy Hans Grundberg concluded a three-day tour of Yemen on Thursday – part of a bid to resuscitate the long-stalled peace process.

The envoy pointed to "the need for comprehensive solutions and inclusive political dialogue", according to a statement from his office. 

READ MORE: Saudi-led coalition: Scores of Yemen rebels killed near Marib