Coalition forces supporting the Yemeni government shot down a rebel drone Thursday over their military base in the southern city of Aden, a source in the Saudi-led alliance said.

The Iran-allied HOuthi insurgents claimed via their Al-Masirah TV to have "successfully" targeted the Brega military base in Aden with a drone.

They said it was the first time they had targeted the coalition in the port city, where President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government has its headquarters.

A source with the Saudi-led alliance told AFP by telephone that its forces had "shot down an unmanned drone over a coalition base" in Aden.

It follows the launch last month of a major offensive by pro-government forces to retake the port city of Hodeida, a key aid gateway on Yemen's west coast held by the rebels since 2014.

The United Arab Emirates is playing a key role in the anti-rebel operations with troops on the ground fighting alongside the army, backed by coalition air strikes.

Saudi Arabia and its allies started a campaign to try to roll back Houthi rebel gains and restore Hadi's internationally recognised government to power.

UN envoy Martin Griffiths is due to brief the Security Council Thursday on his latest efforts to avert an all-out war for Hodeida.

Nearly 10,000 people including 2,200 children have been killed in the Yemen conflict since 2015.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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