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Pro-gov't forces kill 15 Houthi fighters in Yemen

Xinhua, November 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 15 fighters of the Shiite Houthi group were killed Wednesday in an ambush by pro-government forces in Yemen's southern province of al-Dhalea, an army officer told Xinhua.

"The pro-government forces ambushed armored vehicles carrying Shiite Houthi fighters and weapons near Damt town which they retook three days ago, killing about 15 at the scene," the local army officer said on condition of anonymity.

"Since last week, the Shiite Houthi group continued to send heavy reinforcements and well-trained fighters in an apparent attempt to re-enter southern provinces such as al-Dhalea, Lahj and Aden, where hundreds of Sudanese and UAE forces are positioned," the army source said.

On Tuesday, hundreds of pro-government soldiers were mobilized to the strategic military air base of Anad in Lahj province.

Intense fighting also continued Wednesday between Houthi gunmen and pro-government fighters in villages between Lahj and Taiz province.

A tribal chief told Xinhua that Houthis approached toward military locations controlled by army units loyal to the government near Lahj province.

Bolstered by heavy weaponry and Gulf troops as well as Yemeni fighters trained in Saudi Arabia and UAE, the pro-government fighters have retaken Aden as well as four other southern provinces in July.

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