21 Houthis killed in overnight Saudi-led coalition air strikes

At least 20 Houthis were killed in overnight air strikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition targeting rebel positions in the central Yemeni province of Al-Bayda.

"The air strikes hit the Iran-backed Houthi militia in several positions in Nati district, killing 21 and injuring 13 others ... they were brought in the morning to the hospital in the province," medics told Chinese Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity.

Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported five air strikes on Nati district late on Friday, without providing further details.

Al-Bayda is a rebel stronghold, with much of the province being under the control of the Iran-backed militant group since 2014.

The Yemeni army backed by the Saudi-led coalition has advanced this month to several new strategic areas in the north and south of Al-Bayda.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014 when the Houthis swept across much of the north and seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognised government into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year on the side of the government, led by President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Riyadh’s involvement has been widely criticised, with particular focus on its alleged war crimes in the neighbouring country.

Worsening crisis

The situation for civilians in Yemen is dire, prompting the United Nations to describe the conflict as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis".

Earlier this month, Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed warned of a "complete collapse" of the country’s economy, amid a currency crash and the absence of international support.

Saeed spoke of measures being taken by his internationally-recognised government to confront the collapse of the Yemeni rial, coordinate with the central bank to control exchange rates, clamp down on currency exchanges violating the official rate, and enhancing public revenues.

Saeed called on "brotherly nations to provide urgent support so that a complete collapse does not occur after which it (will be) difficult for any intervention to save Yemen's economy", according to the official state-run news agency SABA.

He urged relevant authorities to carry out their necessary duties in districts under government control to alleviate the suffering of Yemenis.

The US dollar has been changing hands for 1,000 Yemeni rials in recent days on the black market, while it stood at around 250 Yemeni rials in early 2015 just before a Saudi-led coalition intervened against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

This has sent food and fuel prices soaring, hitting poor families hardest.