170 Yemen rebels killed within last three days: Army

By Mubarak Mohamed

HADHRAMAUT, Yemen

At least 170 rebel fighters were killed this week in Yemen’s northwestern Hajjah province, the Yemeni army said in a Friday statement.

“The Shia Houthi militia and allied forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh lost 170 fighters within the last three days in clashes with pro-government forces in Hajjah,” the statement read.

It went on to assert that Houthi leader Abu Amjad al-Jabri had been among those killed.

Anadolu Agency was unable to obtain immediate comment from Houthi or pro-Saleh officials regarding the army’s claims.

Yemen has remained in a state of war since 2014 when the Houthis and their allies overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a massive air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen.