by Our Foreign Desk

SAUDI coalition warplanes launched dozens of air strikes on Yemen’s southern port city of Aden on Saturday.

Houthi rebels and their allies had mobilised hundreds of reinforcements in an effort to wrest control of the city from militias supporting embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Opposing fighters faced off in fierce street battles in the Aden neighbourhoods of Khour Makser and Dar Saad as the Houthis tried to gain a foothold in the districts.

“The planes were carrying out air strikes every 10 minutes and continued them throughout the night,” said local resident Mohammed al-Kheir.

And the carnage continued yesterday as at least five air strikes hit military sites and an area near the presidential palace compound in the capital Sanaa at dawn, while warships pounded Aden’s docks.

Aden residents reported heavy clashes between and Houthi fighters, backed up by army units, and local armed militia members.

The militia said it was retaliating with tank and Katyusha rocket fire.

Coalition air strikes in Aden had killed scores of Houthis and their allies loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Friday night.

Saudi Arabia had announced on Tuesday that it was entering a new phase in its campaign against the Houthis, who captured Yemen’s capital last year.

The air campaign is aimed at rolling back the rebels and restoring Mr Hadi, a close US ally who fled to Saudi Arabia last month.

Living conditions in Aden are deteriorating, with most shops closed due to a lack of bread, flour and fuel.