SANAA: Three Yemeni soldiers were killed Monday in an army operation against Shiite Zaidi rebels barricaded in the old district of the northern city of Saada, a military commander said.

Troops and police were taking part in the raid which started at dawn, and aimed to storm the old neighbourhood where about 300 rebels were hiding out, the commander said on condition of anonymity.

He said several of the rebels, also known as Huthis, were killed in the operation and 24 of them were taken prisoner during the operation, which he added could last for days.

His statement could not be immediately verified with the rebels.

Yemeni government forces launched an all-out offensive against Shiite rebels in the north of the Arabian Peninsula country on August 11 in an attempt to end a five-year rebellion.

But the conflict took a new twist in early November when neighbouring Saudi Arabia joined the fight against the Huthi rebels after accusing them of infiltrating its southern borders.

Ten Saudi soldiers have died in the conflict so far, according to an unofficial toll.

Yemen accuses the rebels of being backed by Iran, a charge the Huthis have continuously denied.