Yemen army says 20 rebels killed in southern Yemen

By Mohammed al-Samei

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – At least 20 Houthi rebels have been killed in clashes with government forces in southern Yemen, according to the Yemeni army on Wednesday.

The army’s official website September Net said the violence took place in Dhale province on Tuesday when Houthi rebels attempted to advance on military positions in Maris district, west of Dhale.

Military forces pushed back Houthi rebels, killing 20 of them and injuring 30 others, it said.

There was no information about casualties among government forces.

The Houthi group has yet to comment on the army’s claim.

Yemen has remained wracked by violence since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

The conflict escalated the following year when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a massive air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen and supporting the country’s pro-Saudi government.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in the raging conflict since 2016, according to UN estimates.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara