SANAA
Armed tribesmen in Yemen's southern Shabwah province have managed to expel Shia Houthi militants from the oil-rich city of Usaylan following fierce clashes that left dozens of casualties on both sides, a local official has said.
"Armed vigilantes from Bilharith, one of Shabwah's strongest tribes, managed to liberate Bilharith Valley and the city of Usaylan from Houthi control," the official, requesting anonymity, told Anadolu Agency.
The official went on to note that Houthi forces were being resupplied via the main road linking the Shabwah and Al-Baydaa provinces.
He added that Houthi militants were trying to seize Shabwah's petroleum fields but had met resistance by local tribesman.
Houthi officials could not be reached for immediate comment on the official's assertions.
Shabwah's western city of Usaylan is home to several major oilfields in which international petroleum firms are invested.
The Houthis have a strong presence in several cities in Shabwah, including Beihan and provincial capital Ataq, which the Shia group overran in March.
Fractious Yemen has remained in turmoil since last September, when the Houthis overran capital Sanaa, from which they have sought to extend their influence to other parts of the country.
On March 25, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies began an extensive military campaign targeting Houthi positions across Yemen.
Riyadh says its anti-Houthi campaign comes in response to appeals by embattled Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi for military intervention against the Shia group.
The Houthis, for their part, denounce the offensive as unwarranted "Saudi-American aggression" against Yemen.
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