Saudi-coalition strikes on Sanaa hit rebel-held defence ministry

Yemen's rebel-held capital was struck by multiple overnight air raids that continued well into Sunday, targeting the defence ministry and a popular public square, an official said.

An air strike hit the Sanaa defence ministry, which is controlled by a rebel alliance based in the capital, an official with the local authority said.

Another strike on Sunday targeted Sabaeen Square, frequently the site of mass rallies and protests in the city, the official said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the attack on a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, which is battling Yemen's Houthi rebels.

A spokesperson for a Saudi-led military coalition did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

Also on Saturday, Houthi rebels fired a "ballistic missile" at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia state media reported. 

Saudi's air defence intercepted and destroyed the missile, state TV said. State-run news channel al-Ekhbariya said the missile "was of limited size (and) no injuries or damage" were reported.

The missile was destroyed near Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport, which was functioning normally, it added.

Yemen's rebels claimed they had fired the missile, targeting the airport, the Houthi-run al-Masirah television said.

The Yemeni capital and the country's northern highlands are under the control of the Houthis and their ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

But the rebel government is not recognised by the United Nations or the international community.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a military intervention in the war between government forces and the rebel alliance in a bid to prop up President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

More than 10,000 people have since been killed since the military intervention, according to the United Nations.

A cholera outbreak has claimed more than 2,100 lives in Yemen since April as hospitals struggle to secure supplies amid a coalition air and sea blockade.

The UN has warned Yemen now stands on the brink of famine.

The coalition was briefly included on the annual list of shame last year before a threat by Saudi Arabia to cut off its funding to UN programmes forced a reversal.

Human rights groups have urged governments backing the coalition, including the US, UK and France, to suspend all weapons sales to the Gulf monarchy.