The Yemeni government which has been staying in and acting for Riyadh declared Taiz as a war-stricken city amid deadly shelling on populated areas by the Houthi militants.
The Houthi militants have been firing rockets and mortars on densely populated areas killing civilians including children and women since the fighting with the pro-government fighting renewed in Taiz days ago.
On Monday, local medical sources said 18 civilians including 5 children were killed after the militants randomly fired artilleries and Katyusha on the Oseifrah district and the streets of Jamal and Al-Kawthar in downtown Taiz.
Others were injured in the attacks as local hospitals are continuing to face huge challenges including lack of medicines, the sources said.
The fighting renewed in this city after the government forces with support from the popular resistance drove all Houthi militants out of it.
The militants lately sent reinforcements that have been stationed on the outskirts from they have been attacking the city and imposing a siege preventing all commodities from reaching the people in it.
In the meanwhile, local sources said the Saudi-led coalition struck the Houthis in the city coinciding with intensified airstrikes in other cities including Saada, the Houthi stronghold, and Marib where battles have lately escalated.
The coalition has been bombing the militants and forces loyal to the former president that played a role in ousting the government since March.