Sana'a, Yemen - The Saudi army bombed Shiite rebel positions deep inside Yemen territories on Saturday, with artillery and fighter jets striking new targets, the rebels said in a statement.

They said 145 missiles hit areas in al-Malahid, Shada and al- Hasama districts of the north-western Yemeni province of Saada.

The bombardment targeted areas deeper in the Yemeni side of the borders, including Dhahir al-Humair mountain, Kamama and Ghafira of the Haidan district, the rebels claimed.

Those areas are located some five kilometres from the Yemeni-Saudi borderline.

The rebel claims come amid reports that Saudi Arabia has been enforcing a 10-kilometre deep buffer zone inside Yemen to keep the rebels, known as Houthis, away from its territories.

Yemeni army officials, contacted by the German Press Agency dpa, refused to comment on the reported buffer zone.

A military official, however, said authorities in both countries are coordinating their operations.

"Anything could not happen without coordination between authorities in the two countries," said the official, who asked not to be named. (dpa)