ADEN, Yemen, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Scores of Houthi fighters were killed on Friday during intense fighting with the Yemeni government forces in the southern province of al-Dhalea, a military official told Xinhua.
The intense fighting flared up between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthi rebels in Muris front in the northern parts of al-Dhalea province, leaving casualties among the rebels, the military source said on condition of anonymity.
"The Houthis launched an attack against military positions of the government forces in Muris, sparking ferocious armed confrontations in which heavy weapons were used," the source said.
Another attack was carried out by the Houthi fighters in a new attempt to make progress in villages controlled by the government forces, but faced stiff resistance from the pro-government forces stationed there, he said.
He added that "scores of the Houthi attackers were either killed or injured during the two attacks that were aborted by the national armed forces."
Meanwhile, the country's defence ministry website reported that an attack by the Houthi rebels was repulsed following hours of armed confrontations with the government forces in al-Dhalea province.
The Yemeni ministry said that a number of rebels were killed including four mid-level field commanders of the Iranian-backed Houthi group.
Last week, the Houthis launched a series of intensive attacks on positions of the government forces in the northern part of al-Dhalea and managed to control key mountainous hills overlooking government-controlled areas in the province.
The areas located in the north and west of al-Dhalea have been witnessing continuous fighting between government forces and Houthi fighters for nearly four years.
Yemen has been plagued by a civil war since late 2014 after Houthi rebels revolted against the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
The rebels advanced from their far northern stronghold of Saada province toward the south, seizing control over much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa, which triggered the deadly war.
