Nine Yemeni soldiers were killed by the Houthi militia during the past 48 hours in the country, a military official said , accusing the militia of breaching the ceasefire.

“The Houthi militia breached the ceasefire brokered by the UN and launched a number of attacks against the government-controlled sites in Yemen,” the local military source said on condition of anonymity.

The attacks involved scores of attacks using explosive-laden drones and artillery shells in various regions, he added.

The source confirmed that the Houthi ceasefire breaches left nine members of the government forces killed and several others injured, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Houthis have yet to comment on the attacks.

Since April 2, the warring parties in Yemen have been abiding by a nationwide ceasefire. Although the truce has largely been upheld, the internationally recognised government and the Houthi group frequently trade accusations of violations.

The latest Houthi attacks coincided with the reports of Saudi Arabia suggesting a further extension of the UN-brokered truce in Yemen, which was already extended until August 2.

In response to US President Joe Biden’s trip to the region, the Houthi militia, backed by Iran, declared they would not consent to an extension of the seven-year war’s ceasefire.

The Houthi ruling political council said in a statement issued on Saturday that they “reject any outcomes for the US President’s visit to the region related to the sovereignty, security and stability of Yemen”.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa.

The war has killed thousands of people, displaced 4 million, and pushed the poorest Arab country to the brink of starvation.