AL-MUKALLA: The Arab coalition in Yemen launched a new wave of airstrikes on Tuesday in an attempt to end the 20-day Houthi siege of Al-Abedia in the central province of Marib.

The coalition said its warplanes carried out 43 raids in 24 hours against Houthi military reinforcements and locations, killed more than 134 Houthis, and destroyed nine military vehicles.

The Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking Al-Abedia for nearly three weeks in an attempt to force local tribesmen and Yemeni government troops to surrender after failing to control the district militarily. Despite heavy shelling and ground attacks by the Houthis, the government forces have vowed to fight off the Houthi attempts to capture the district.

The coalition also accused the Houthis of obstructing the delivery of medication, food, and other life-saving supplies to more than 35,000 civilians trapped in the district.

On Monday, the coalition said more than 400 Houthis had been killed in dozens of airstrikes that thwarted the militia’s incursions into the district. The Yemeni Defense Ministry said heavy fighting between government troops and the Houthis erupted in key fronts south of Marib as coalition warplanes destroyed a number of Houthi military vehicles.

Yemeni government forces also attacked the Houthis in Al-Kasara, west of Marib, the ministry said.

Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to rescue thousands of besieged civilians in Al-Abedia.