Houthis

Yemen government denies cutting ties with Iran

"Cutting ties with Iran does not align with Yemen's supreme interests," said Rageh Badie.

The internationally recognized government has long been accusing Iran of arming and training the country's Shiite rebels known as Houthis. Tehran admits to supporting and advising the rebels, but denies any military aid.

Saudi-led coalition pounds Yemen rebels near central city

The heavy bombardment came hours after the rebels, known as Houthis, aired footage on their satellite television channel purporting to show a Saudi soldier held as a prisoner of war. 

A top al-Qaida leader in Yemen meanwhile praised the campaign against the Houthis and called for Islamic rule in the Arab world's poorest country.

VIDEO: Aftermath of coalition airstrike in Sanaa

The Houthis still control the capital and are resisting a push by pro-government forces along several frontlines around the country.

Yemen has been torn by a ferocious war pitting the Houthis and forces fighting for former President Ali Abdullah Saleh against Hadi loyalists, as well as southern separatists, local militias and Sunni extremists.

The conflict escalated in March as a Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes against the Houthis.

22 Emirati troops in Saudi-led coalition killed in Yemen

This represents the largest single loss for the Gulf nation's military to date in the war.

Pro-government Yemeni security officials said the troops were killed Friday when a Houthi missile hit a weapons storage depot near their position in the province of Marib, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the capital Sanaa. Officials from the Houthi media office in Sanaa confirmed they fired a Soviet-era Tochka missile.

Bomb in governor's office in southern Yemeni city kills 4

The developments came as Shiite rebels known as Houthis launched new attacks, after weeks of retreating as pro-government troops pushed north out of Aden. Yemen's fighting, which escalated in March, pits the Houthis and troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh against southern separatists, local and tribal militias, Sunni Islamic militants and troops loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

VIDEO: Ongoing fighting in Aden suburbs

Meanwhile, Yemen's pro-government troops fought pockets of resistance outside a key military base in the country's south, a day after they seized it from Shiite rebels, military officials said.

The capture of the Al-Anad base - once the site of US intelligence operations against al-Qaida's powerful Yemeni affiliate - was a significant victory for the forces allied to Yemen's exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in their battle to reverse the gains of the rebels known as Houthis.

Al-Qaida kills 6 captured Yemeni rebels north of Aden

The witnesses, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said al-Qaida made the captured Houthi fighters, who were in their early 20s, kneel and kiss their hands before shooting them Wednesday afternoon in Dar Saad.

A witness said one of the rebels begged to be spared, saying he was the sole supporter of his family. But the witness said an al-Qaida fighter responded "Shut up, you dog," before he and the others shouted Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and opened fire.