Yemen:  As international envoys denounced the militia's renewed assault, Yemen's presidential council pledged to oppose the "terrorist" Houthis and urged resistance.

The latest Houthi attacks, mainly in Marib and Shabwa, showed, according to the council, which is presided over by Rashad Al-Alimi, that the militia has no intention of putting an end to the conflict. It made a commitment to obstruct their plans and stated that it would support locals in Houthi-controlled areas in their fight against tyranny.

The SABA news agency quoted the council as saying, "The council urged the international community to recognise the gravity of this terrorist escalation, with the continuous smuggling of additional Iranian weaponry to militias, and the disastrous consequences for world peace and security."

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However, it promised to "take all necessary steps to protect public interests and deter terrorist groups." It did not specify how it would react.

Since the militia attacked oil installations in the provinces of Hadramout and Shabwa last year, the eight-member presidential council has come under increasing public pressure to conduct counterattacks.

Since early last week, the Houthis have made marginal gains in Shabwa and Marib, aiming heavy weapons and explosive drones at government troops.

A few villages in the Hareb and Merkhah Al-Ulya districts of Marib and Shabwa were taken over by the Houthis before government troops were able to push them back after receiving reinforcements.

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On Saturday, the militia also made an attempt to kill Taiz Governor Nabeil Shamsan by firing artillery and missiles at his car.

The renewed attacks have been denounced by Western ambassadors in Yemen, who have also urged the Houthis to deescalate and cooperate with peace efforts.

The militia must "cease their provocative actions and show a genuine commitment to peace in Yemen," according to British ambassador Richard Oppenheim.

"We condemn the recent Houthi escalation in Taiz and Marib, which resulted in fatalities, and offer our condolences to the families of the victims," said Steven Fagin, the US ambassador.

"The Houthis must stop making the suffering of Yemenis worse and support a peaceful end to the conflict,"

According to representatives of the Yemeni government, the Houthi uprising happened on the eighth anniversary of the Arab coalition's military intervention to demonstrate that they were still a threat.

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An anonymous Yemeni government official said, "The Houthis took advantage of the anniversary of Decisive Storm and Ramadan to demonstrate their might."