Gov’t forces capture 45 rebels in northwestern Yemen

SANAA

Government forces have captured dozens of Houthi rebels in northwestern Yemen, according to the Yemeni army on Saturday.

In a statement, the army said 45 rebels were held in Hajjah province as part of an ongoing military campaign in the area.

The statement, however, did not give any details about casualties among government forces.

The Shia Houthi group has yet to comment on the claim.

Yemen has been wracked by chaos since 2014, when the Houthi rebel group overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

The crisis escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.

Since then, thousands of people -- including numerous civilians -- are believed to have been killed in the conflict, while the UN has repeatedly warned that some 14 million Yemenis remain at risk of famine.