Yemeni pro-government forces advancing into the strategic province of Taiz were battling rebels on the outskirts of its second largest town on Thursday, military sources said.Eight rebels and two loyalists were killed in the fighting for Rahida, the pro-government sources said.
The town lies on the main road from government-held territory towards Taiz, Yemen's third largest city, 40 kilometres (25 miles) further north, where loyalist troops have been besieged by the rebels for months.
Loyalist forces were backed by significant reinforcements from a Saudi-led coalition to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in March.
Hadi returned from Saudi exile on Tuesday as the offensive against the Houthi rebels and their allies got under way.
The coalition carried out at least 10 air strikes against rebel positions in and around Rahida during the night, the military sources said.
Breaking the siege of Taiz is seen as crucial for the recapture of other central provinces and opening the way to the rebel-held capital Sanaa further north.
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