4 government soldiers killed in Yemen clashes

By Ali Oweida

MAARIB, Yemen

At least four Yemeni soldiers were killed in clashes with Houthi rebels in Yemen’s eastern Maarib province on Saturday, according to a military source.

Rebels attacked military positions in the Sirwah directorate in western Maarib and captured a strategic position in the area, the source told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity because he was unauthorized to speak to media.

Government forces launched a counterattack to recapture the position, during which four soldiers were killed, the source said.

According to the military source, dozens of Houthi rebels were killed and injured during ensuing clashes with government forces.

There was no comment from the Shia Houthi group on the claim.

The Yemeni army has been trying to dislodge Houthi rebels from Sirwah directorate, which has been held by rebels since April 2015.

Yemen has fallen into civil war in 2014 when the Houthis overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa, forcing the Saudi-backed government to flee to Riyadh.