At least 22 civilians were killed and several others wounded as rockets allegedly fired by rebels crashed into the Yemeni city of Taez on Wednesday, medics and military officials said.

The Katyusha rockets hit areas in the centre of the city that is circled by Shiite Huthi rebels and allied forces loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a military official said.

"Al-Mutahideen hospital has received 22 bodies of civilians," a medical source said.