At least 73 soldiers have been killed in a missile attack reportedly launched by Houthi rebels at a mosque in Yemen.

Dozens more were left wounded in the attack, which targeted a mosque in a military training camp in the city of Marib, two medical sources told Reuters.

The Iran-aligned Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday’s attack.

Yemen’s president told the military on Sunday it needed to be on high alert and ready for battle.

The attack “confirms without doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace”, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said in a statement on Yemen’s state news agency Saba.

Brutal effects of Yemeni war Show all 12 1 /12 Brutal effects of Yemeni war Brutal effects of Yemeni war Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council shows a Yemeni woman holding a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Mohamed, 2, is treated for Malnutrition in Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province, Yemen Bel Trew Brutal effects of Yemeni war a trip in Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows a Yemeni woman holding a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province. AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows a Yemeni woman sitting next to a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province. AFP/Getty Brutal effects of Yemeni war A picture taken on August 7, 2018 during a trip in Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council shows Yemeni women attending to children diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP) (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Mohamed, 2, is treated for Malnutrition in Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province, Yemen Bel Trew Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition is weighed at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition awaits treatment at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition awaits treatment at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Yemeni nurses weigh a malnourished child at a hospital in the northern district of Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni woman carries a malnourished child as she waits during food distribution in the province of Hodeida AFP/Getty Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition is measured at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province on August 18, 2018. (Photo by ESSA AHMED / AFP) (Photo credit should read ESSA AHMED/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images

The attack came after several assaults by Saudi-backed government forces on rebel targets east of the capital Sanaa.

At least 22 people were killed on both sides in those attacks, officials said.

Yemen has been the site of a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia after Mr Hadi’s government was ousted in 2014.

The Saudi-led military coalition intervened to drive out the Houthis and restore Mr Hadi’s internationally recognised government.