Yemen's Houthi militia said it launched a ballistic missile at the Yemeni government army in the southeastern province of Shabwa on Saturday morning, killing and injuring at least 40 soldiers.

The missile targeted the gathering of the soldiers in the Usaylan district in northern Shabwa, Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea said.

There was no comment yet from the government over the Houthi attack.

On Thursday, the Houthi militia claimed responsibility for another ballistic missile attack on the province of Marib to the north of Shabwa, which killed seven people, according to government health officials.

The Houthi militia has intensified missile attacks on Shabwa and Marib after it had lost several strategic districts in both oil-rich provinces this month after deadly fighting against the government army.

The Houthi militia also launched more cross-border ballistic missile attacks on airports and facilities inside Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the latter of which is a key member of a Saudi-led Arab coalition backing the Yemeni army.