SANAA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Tuesday claimed that the Saudi-led coalition has launched "more than 42 airstrikes" on two northern provinces and escalated border attacks over the past 24 hours, accusing the coalition of pushing toward "military escalation."

"The aggressors have launched over 42 airstrikes on Saada and Hajjah and continued military escalation in the border front lines," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea was quoted as saying by the group's al-Masirah television.

The coalition so far has no comment on the claim.

Saada, Hajjah and border front lines had seen de-escalation over the last week between the Houthi rebels and the coalition forces, with large decline in the number of airstrikes, according to official reports from both sides.

The lull came two weeks after positive announcements from Saudi officials toward Houthis' offer of a truce initiative to halt cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia if Riyadh does the same.

The Houthi group has been in control of much of Yemen's northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, since they ousted the legitimate government in late 2014.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition against Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen for more than four years in support of the exiled internationally-recognized government of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Enditem

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