At least 16 civilians wounded in shelling in embattled Yemeni city

At least 16 civilians were wounded in shelling in the southwestern city of Taiz, a medical charity said on Tuesday.

The shelling occurred on Monday in predominately civilian parts of the embattled Yemeni city of Taiz and surrounding areas, the international aid organization Doctors without Borders (MSF) said in a tweet.

Those injured include women, the elderly and children, with three under the age of 10, MSF said. All are being treated at a hospital supported by MSF.

On Monday, Yemen's Saudi-backed government accused Houthi rebels of shelling residential areas, leading to civilian casualties.

The Saudi-backed government and Houthi rebels have been fighting since late 2014, in what is now seen as a proxy war between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Houthis took control of the capital, Sana'a, and surrounding areas at the time, driving President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi and his government to flee towards the south.

The conflict intensified a few months later as the Houthis advanced towards Aden city, which became the seat of the government, prompting Saudi Arabia to form the coalition in March 2015.

Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies then started an air campaign against the Shiite Houthis.

The fighting has pushed Yemen to the verge of famine and destroyed the impoverished country's health facilities.