By Shukri Hussein

ADEN, Yemen

The Yemeni army has captured the Baqem Directorate in the northwestern Saada province from Houthi rebels, a military source said Thursday.

If confirmed, Baqem would be the first directorate of Saada -- a traditional Houthi stronghold -- to fall to the army.

Brigadier-General Yasser al-Harthi, commander of the army’s 102nd Brigade, said that “dozens” of Houthi fighters had been killed or captured in the fighting.

Anadolu Agency, however, has yet to independently verify al-Harthi’s assertions.

Yemen has remained wracked by violence since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

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