SANAA, Sept 10 — Yemen’s Houthi rebels reported about 40 airstrikes launched by Saudi forces on Thursday in a fresh salvo following attacks by the Iran-backed group against the kingdom.

“The Saudi enemy’s air force conducted around 40 strikes in recent hours in the governorates of Taiz, Hodeida, Al-Jawf and Marib,” Houthi news agency Saba said.

The Houthis, who control large parts of north-west Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive last week against Yemeni government forces, who are backed by Saudi Arabia.

They also launched attacks on Saudi territory that left dozens wounded.

On Wednesday the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said the rebels fired ballistic missiles and drones at several cities in southern Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi civil defence issued alerts warning of “potential danger” in two areas, Khamis Mushait and Abha.

The Houthis are seeking to advance towards coastal areas of the Red Sea that border the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping lane.

The waterway, which links Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, has gained importance as a transit route since the start of the wider Middle East war, which saw Iran blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

Since last week, the fighting in Yemen has left more than 500 dead, mostly combatants, according to an AFP tally compiled from several sources.

The country relapsed into war in July after years of calm, drawn into the regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli offensive against Iran that began at the end of February. — AFP