Cairo: Warplanes of a Saudi-led Arab coalition on Wednesday mounted a series of strikes against Iran-allied Al Houthi militants in Yemen’s west Coast region as part of a major offensive unleashed there two months ago, Yemeni media reported.

The bombardment targeted several areas off the west Coast, which is part of the Red Sea province of Hodeida, news portal Adan Al Ghad reported.

An unspecified number of Al Houthi militiamen were killed in the air raids, according to the report.

In June, the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, began an onslaught to liberate Hodeida, which has been under Al Houthis’ control since October 2014.

Government loyalists, supported by coalition jets, have since made territorial gains in the region, including recapture of the international Hodeida airport.

The battle over Hodeida is the biggest in Yemen’s war of nearly four years.

Hodeida is strategically important because of its harbour, which is a lifeline for millions of Yemenis, as most of the commercial imports and relief supplies enter through it to the country.

The Arab Coalition accuses Al Houthis of taking advantage of their control of the harbour to obtain weapons from their Iranian patrons as well as confiscate aid intended for Yemenis in order to sustain their war efforts.

The offensive for Hodeida is part for a multi-front campaign targeting other rebel-controlled territory in Yemen.

Al Houthis have suffered territorial setbacks over the past two months.

Yemeni army troops, backed by coalition jets, have advanced in the north-west province of Hajjah where they regained large chunks from Al Houthuis, military sources said Wednesday.

The troops are pushing towards the centre of district of Hayran in Hajjah, Dubai-based television Al Arabiya reported, citing the sources.

Al Houthis have responded by targeting civilians with shelling, according to the sources. One whole family was killed as a result of Al Houthi shelling by heavy weapons on Hayran’s village of Al Sada, one source said.

“The militias symmetrically target civilians in Hajjah as they [Al Houthis] are experiencing losses on battlefronts,” the source added.

Military operations in Hajjah are strategically important because they help secure navigation off the Yemen coast.

Last month, Al Houthis raised international concerns after they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea off west Yemen.