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Shiite rebels 'seize city of Taiz and airport'

Shiite rebels backed by supporters of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh have taken over parts of Yemen's third largest city of Taiz and its airport.

The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Yemen's security situation.

It comes after the US announced it was withdrawing its troops from Yemen due to the worsening security situation amid mounting violence by armed rival groups including Houthi rebels, al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants.

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Yemen Shiite rebel leader vows to escalate attacks

Yemen's Shiite rebel leader has vowed to escalated his attack against the country's president today, after his militia seized the city of Taiz.

Abdel-Malik al-Houthi said he intended to send fighters to the south where President Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadi has taken refuge, according to Reuters.

In an interview on al-Masirah TV, al-Houthi, who has accused Yemen's President of partnering with militant groups to destabilise the country, said: "The decision (to mobilise) aims to confront the criminal forces, al Qaida, and its partners and sisters, and all those who want to take cover in regions or using political pretexts."

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Shiite rebels 'seize city of Taiz and airport'

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