31 Houthis Killed in 24 Hours in Yemen’s Marib
Fighting for the key Yemeni region of Marib has intensified, with 31 Iran-backed Houthi militants dead in the past 24 hours, loyalist military officials said Saturday.
The
Houthis have been trying to seize oil-rich northern province of Marib since
February.
"The Houthis have managed to seize a
bit of territory" in the latest fighting northwest of the city, a
pro-government military source said, adding that they did not threaten the city
of Marib itself.
The
same source said 22 government soldiers including five officers had been
killed, along with 31 militants.
The
Houthis rarely announce casualties on their own side.
Loyalist
military officials said Saturday that coalition aircraft had carried out strikes
against the Houthis.
The
Houthis have so far ignored international calls for a ceasefire, as well as a
new Saudi initiative aimed at reaching a political solution to the crisis.
At least a million civilians displaced from fighting elsewhere have sought refuge in Marib camps.
