SANAA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A fierce fighting erupted in late night of Tuesday between the Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels in the southern edge of Hodeidah port city, sources from both rival forces said.
The fight has been described as the most violent clashes since weeks and concentrated near the Coastal Defense Camp, which is under the government control.
Several adjoining civilian neighbourhoods of the 7 July, Shuhada and Rabasah came under the clashes. Artillery and heavy machine guns were used in the fight.
Residents reported powerful explosions shaking the whole city.
There were no reports of casualties from both rival sides.
The rebels control the port city, while the government forces have advanced to the southern suburbs of the city.
A fragile cease-fire deal was reached between the Yemeni warring parties in Stockholm in December last year and focused on Hodeidah as a first phase to pave the way for an all-out political solution to end the conflict.
The Yemeni government forces are backed by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia since 2015 to roll back gains by the Iran-allied Shiite Houthi rebels who seized much of the country's north.
