Taiz rattled by heavy fighting

CAIRO: At least 20 Houthi militia fighters were killed in heavy clashes in Yemen’s third-largest city Taiz on Thursday, a day after they pounded it with rockets, forces loyal to the government said.
Taiz, considered Yemen’s cultural capital, has suffered huge destruction since becoming a main battleground in the conflict between government supporters and the Iran-allied Houthis, who are backed by forces loyal to deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh. It is currently divided between the two sides.
The Houthis and Saleh’s forces are battling a Saudi-led coalition which is trying to restore the government of Yemen’s current President, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, which is now based in Aden.
Forces loyal to Hadi killed at least 20 Houthis and Saleh loyalists in Taiz, their commanders said.
On Wednesday, 14 civilians were killed in shelling in Taiz by the Houthi side, medical sources said.
Thousands have had to flee Taiz and those left behind are facing severe shortages of basic supplies. In September, the United Nations said it was concerned about the near collapse of the health care system in the city.
The Saudi-led coalition has gained ground in southern Yemen.