18 Houthis killed in clashes with Yemeni forces

By Zeynep Hilal Karyagdi

DHALE, Yemen

At least 18 Houthi rebels were killed and 12 others injured in clashes with the Yemen’s government forces in Dhale city.

According to the Yemeni army’s September Net website, the Houthi rebels attempted to infiltrate the army positions in Damt district, but were responded with fire by the armed forces.

Seven districts of Dali city are currently under the government control whereas most of Damt and Juban districts are held by the Houthis.

The Yemeni army launched an operation to rescue Damt and Juban districts in early November, then gained control of some strategic points in these areas.

Yemen has been dogged by conflict since 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa, forcing the government to take up temporary residence in the coastal city of Aden.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia and several of its Arab allies launched a massive air campaign in Yemen aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.

While the Saudi-led coalition has succeeded in wresting some territory back from the Houthis, the Shia rebel group remains firmly ensconced in Sanaa and in several other parts of the country.

The Saudi-led campaign in Yemen has devastated the country's infrastructure, including its health and sanitation systems, prompting the UN to describe it as one of the worst humanitarian disasters of modern times.

* Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this story from Ankara