( CNN ) The leader of Yemen 's Houthi rebels vowed not to back down on Sunday as a top Saudi military official claimed weeks of airstrikes had significantly weakened the Shiite group . `` Our fighters will not evacuate from the main cities or the government institutions , '' rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said in a televised address . `` Anyone who thinks we will surrender is dreaming . '' His comments came after more than three weeks of Saudi-led coalition bombings aimed at pushing back the Houthis , who surged into the capital of Sanaa in January and ousted President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi from power . Hadi still claims he 's Yemen 's legitimate leader and is working with the Saudis and other allies to return to his country . Since mid-March , more than 700 people have been killed in violence that shows no sign of slowing , according to figures from the World Health Organization . The Houthis say they have the support of the country 's people behind them . `` It 's the right of the Yemeni people to stand against the attacks in all possible means as long as the attacks continue , '' Al-Houthi said Sunday . `` After our people move and react against the attacks and killing of children and women , we do not want to hear any voices and cries . '' But there are signs of some fracturing among forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh , many of whom have fought alongside the rebels . Gen. AbdulRahman AlHalili , who leads more than 10,000 troops , has now allied himself with Hadi , military sources said Sunday . Meanwhile , Saudi Brig . Gen. Ahmed Asiri said Sunday that airstrikes had decimated the Houthis ' central command by targeting their communications . The rebels , he said , are now holding a defensive stance in besieged areas . Since it began the campaign known as Operation Decisive Storm on March 26 , the Saudi-led coalition has launched 2,300 airstrikes , Asiri said . After hours at sea , chaos and desperation in Yemeni city . CNN 's Don Melvin and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report .
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi says in a televised address that fighters will not pull out of major cities . A top military leader pledges allegiance to Yemen 's ousted President .