ADEN: Pro-government fighters in Yemen have besieged a military base held by Houthi terrorists for 40 hours after cutting off major supply routes to the facility, Yemeni military officials said.

The officials said the fighters besieged the Al-Anad base in Lahj province as part of their push north from the southern port city of Aden, which they captured earlier this month.

In the nearby strategic town of Sabr, 20 Houthi terrorists were killed in clashes, residents and security and medical officials said. The fighting in Sabr, which is located on a key supply route, has intensified as the rebels have brought in reinforcements from Lahj. Dozens of families fled south to Aden riding on camels and in cars, witnesses and security officials said.

The officials said troops trained by the Saudi-led coalition are reinforcing pro-government fighters.

The Saudi-led coalition had declared a five day truce beginning Monday to allow delivery of desperately needed relief supplies.

But on Tuesday it launched air strikes on terorists north of Aden and in nearby Lahj province, where loyalist forces were tightening the noose on Houthis in the strategic Al-Anad air base.

Diplomats, meanwhile, said the UN Security Council was expected to hold consultations on Yemen.

Ambassadors from the council’s 15 member states were to hear a report by the head of UN humanitarian operations Stephen O’Brien before meeting behind closed doors.

Johannes Van Der Klaauw, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, has made an urgent appeal for humanitarian access.

“I repeat my plea to all parties of the conflict to put an end to the attacks, vital for supplying essential goods and services to the civilian population,” he said.

“The UN and its partners are committed to rapidly scaling up the humanitarian response effort across the whole of Yemen.”