Yemen's army has announced the death of its most senior commander to be killed this year in the country's ongoing civil war.

In a statement late yesterday, it said Maj-Gen Abdul-Rab al-Shadadi was killed while leading an offensive against the Iranian-backed Shiite rebels known as the Houthis east of the capital Sanaa. Three militia commanders fighting alongside the army of the internationally-recognized government were also killed.

It says all four were killed when a missile fired by the Houthis struck their position yesterday.