Houthi attack on gov't-controlled areas repulsed in Yemen

Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-11 21:35:42|Editor: xuxin
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ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally-backed government on Tuesday repulsed an attack by scores of Houthi militants on goverment-controlled areas in southwestern province of Taiz, a military commander told Xinhua.

According to the military commander of the Fourth Regional Military Command, scores of Houthi militants backed by armored vehicles attempted to advance in government-controlled areas near Rahidah area of Taiz province.

The Houthi militants launched an attack on a number of military sites belonging to the government forces, sparking fierce clashes that continued for two hours, the source said.

However, the government forces backed by forces of the Saudi-led coalition managed to foil the Houthi attack and repulse the militants, he added.

Another army officer of the pro-government forces positioned in areas between southern province of Lahj and Taiz province confirmed to Xinhua saying that "Houthi reinforcements were intercepted by government forces successfully."

"We made our preparations and aborted the attack after receiving intelligence tips that heavy Houthi reinforcements were approaching from our sites," the officer said.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia with other Arab countries intervened militarily and began pounding the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa in March 2015 in response to an official public request from Hadi to protect Yemen and roll back Iran's influence.

The internal military conflict between the Iranian-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government recently entered its fourth year, aggravating the suffering of Yemenis and deepening the world's worst humanitarian crisis in the country.

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