The Saudi-led coalition warned Saturday it would back Yemen's government in any military confrontation with separatist forces, as Riyadh urged them to withdraw "peacefully" from recently-seized provinces.

The statements came a day after reported Saudi air strikes on separatist positions in Yemen's Hadramawt province -- and after Washington called for restraint in the rapidly escalating conflict.

General Turki al-Malki, the spokesman for the coalition, warned of intervention if efforts to de-escalate the situation failed because of the separatists' actions.

"The coalition forces affirm that any military movements undermining these efforts will be dealt with directly and immediately to protect civilian lives," he said, according to the Saudi news agency SPA.

He emphasised the coalition's support for the internationally-recognised Yemeni government and called on all parties to "bear national responsibility, exercise restraint, and respond to efforts for peaceful solutions", SPA reported.

Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman posted on X that........

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