Houthi rebels killed at least 10 people, including eight soldiers and two civilians, in fresh attacks on Yemen's oil-rich province of Marib on Friday, officials said. The attacks targeted Saudi-backed government forces, marking an escalation in the long-running conflict.
A source close to the Saudi military said the Saudi-led coalition, which has supported Yemen's government since 2015, would not remain passive in the face of such attacks. The source said the coalition does not seek escalation but will not allow the balance of power on the ground to be changed.
The Houthi rebels, who control much of northern Yemen, have intensified their assaults on Marib, one of the government's last strongholds in the north. The province is strategically important because of its oil resources.
In a separate development, US Senator Ted Cruz said the Trump administration should aim for the collapse of the Houthi-led regime, according to CBS World. The statement reflected growing concern among some US lawmakers over the escalating violence.