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Pro-Houthi forces recapture town in southern Yemen

Xinhua, November 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Shiite Houthi group backed by army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh recaptured Sunday a town near Yemen's southern province of al-Dhalea after fierce battles with pro-government fighters, a military official said.

"After three days of fierce battles with pro-government fighters, the pro-Houthi forces have taken full control over Damt town near the southern province of al-Dhalea that has been taken from Houthis months ago," the local military official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"The Houthi gunmen were deployed in Damt entrances and some snipers topped over the buildings while military checkpoints were set everywhere," the military source said, adding that "Saudi-led warplanes shelled some Houthi-held sites in the same area."

A medical source confirmed that dozens of people from both sides were either killed or wounded during the three-day battles.

According to local residents, the Shiite Houthi group mobilized its fighters to regain control over southern cities they lost during the past months.

Meanwhile, Houthi gunmen advanced on the ground and regained full control over several military positions on the outskirts of Lahj province despite airstrikes by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, local sources said.

The Saudi-led coalition made up of nine Arab Gulf states who support Yemen's exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has been air striking on a daily basis the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi group across Yemen since March 26, when Hadi fled to the Saudi capital Riyadh to take refuge.

The coalition said its intervention aims to restore Hadi's authority in the country.

The Shiite armed group still seized much of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa since September. Endit