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Fierce clashes reported in Yemen-Saudi border

Xinhua, December 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Yemen's dominant Houthi group said Saturday that its fighters have repelled a major offensive launched by their foes of Saudi government troops in Alab border crossing, between Saudi Asir region and Yemeni northern Houthi stronghold of Saada, Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported.

Houthi said their fighters have killed dozens of Saudi troops during the battles over the past 24 hours, though no reports from Saudi side were immediately available.

It was the latest of fighting in the joint crossing border, of which its northern part was under Saudi military control, while the southern part was still under Houthi control.

Saba reported that the Yemeni militant forces also lobbed a barrage of Katyusha missiles into Saudi military gatherings west of Dhahran area, as well as Shabaka and Arabah military camps in the same Saudi border region of Asir.

Separately, Houthi fighters backed by loyal Yemeni army's soldiers fired artillery and Katyusha missiles at Saudi military camps of Rakabat al-Ash, Mustahdath and al-Khadhra camp in neighboring Saudi region of Najran and Saudi military gathering west of Tiwal border crossing in adjacent Saudi region of Jizan, said Saba.

There were no reports of casualties were immediately available.

Meanwhile, clashes were reported Saturday between Houthi fighters and Saudi-backed Yemeni exiled government forces in several Yemeni provinces, including Taiz, al-Jawf, Marib , Lahj and in Nehm northeast of Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, according to local media.

Houthis have been targeting Saudi-border cities since the beginning of the war in Yemen in early 2015 that led to the deaths of thousands of civilians from both countries.

Houthis, backed by forced loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, seized control of power in 2014, throwing Yemeni internationally recognized president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government over alleged accusations of corruption.

The accusations were denied by Hadi's government, which called for the Saudi-led coalition military help in March 2015 to restore power. Endit