Hundreds of deaths have been reported this month alone after the Houthi fighters relaunched their campaign for Marib, a key battleground of the seven-year conflict and the last stronghold of the Yemeni government in the oil-rich north.

AFP reported quoting a military source that at least 43 Houthi rebels and seven loyalists had been killed in the fighting west of Marib in the past 48 hours. Most of the Houthi fighters' deaths occurred in coalition airstrikes.

The Governor of Marib, Major General Sultan al-Arada, told MaribPost.com that Marib will continue to be the starting point for restoring the state and preserving the republic like its eyes.

Earlier, there was worldwide condemnation, including by the United Nation, European Union, US and UK, over the execution of nine men by the Houthi rebels after their "conviction" in their self-styled court. The nine, including a minor, were accused of a Houthi leader's killing in a 2018 air strike.

Yemen's conflict flared in 2014 after the Houthi rebels seized the capital Sana'a, and since then tens of thousands have been killed and millions have left their homes in the seven-year-long war between Saudi-led military coalition that backs the Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi fighters.

The Saudi-led coalition is trying to restore the rule of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.