Xinhua news agency quoted a government official as saying that a total of nine workers were shot dead as Houthi rebels raided an industrial compound in the country's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Thursday evening.

The local government source said on condition of anonymity that "A number of artillery and mortar shells fired indiscriminately by the Houthi rebels landed on an industrial compound in Hodeidah's southern parts."

He said that the shells targeted Thabit Brothers industrial compound owned by local Yemeni investors.

Medical sources confirmed to Xinhua that the number of victims is likely to increase due the intense Houthi shelling against the industrial facility.