MARIB, Yemen

At least 29 casualties were reported from two ballistic missile attacks carried out by Houthi rebels in Yemen's Marib province, an official said Sunday.

Yemen’s Information Minister Muammar al-Iryani said on Twitter that the Iranian-made ballistic missiles targeted the southern Al-Jalwah district, hitting a mosque and religious center.

Noting that the casualties included children and women, he urged the international community to put a stop to the daily war crimes committed by the Houthis against civilians.

On Oct. 21, a total of 13 people were also killed by Houthis in the same region.

In recent months, Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks to take control of the oil-rich province, one of the most important strongholds of the legitimate government and home to the headquarters of Yemen’s Defense Ministry.

On Feb.13, the Yemeni army launched a large-scale operation against the Houthis on various fronts in Marib to protect the province.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital, Sana’a.

A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government has worsened the situation, causing one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises with 233,000 people killed, nearly 80% of the country’s 30 million people needing humanitarian assistance and protection and more than 13 million people in danger of starvation, according to UN estimates.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar