ADEN: Pro-government forces supported by Gulf air strikes have made key gains against Iran-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen’s third city Taez, seen as a gateway to the capital, military sources said Sunday.

The so-called Popular Resistance Committees, loyal to exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, have seized several strategic locations in central Taez, military officials said.

However, the Houthi rebels and their allies still control entrances to Taez and other parts of the city.

The officials reported heavy fighting around the presidential palace in Taez and the nearby central security forces’ camp — held by the rebels.

Rashad Al-Sharaabi, spokesman of the Popular Resistance Committees in Taez, said 10 rebels and four loyalist fighters were killed in the past 24 hours.

Loyalist forces have retaken the intelligence headquarters and a fortress from which the rebels had been shelling Taez, as well as the highest peak overlooking the city on Jabal Sabr, Sharaabi told AFP.

Saudi-led Gulf coalition warplanes carried out several fresh air strikes in Taez early on Sunday, witnesses said.