ADEN: At least 30 Yemeni soldiers were killed in coalition air raids and clashes after troops attempted to defect to Iran-backed rebel ranks near the border with Saudi Arabia, a military source said on Wednesday.

Saudi-led coalition jets, which have bombed Yemeni rebel positions since March, intervened when "dozens of soldiers defected and announced their support" for Shia Huthi rebels yesterday, prompting clashes with pro-government troops, the military source said.

The incident took place at the 23rd Mechanised Brigade, stationed near the border with Saudi Arabia and left "at least 30 soldiers killed and dozens wounded" on both sides, he told AFP.

"Armoured vehicles and troop carriers were destroyed or damaged" in the air raids and clashes between rival units before the situation was brought under control, the source added.

Troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh have joined forces with the Huthi rebels, who seized the capital almost unresisted in September before advancing southwards in the impoverished Gulf country.

Saudi Arabia fears the Huthis are trying to bring Yemen under the influence of Shia Iran.