320 fighters killed in battle in central Yemen, officials say

SMA NEWS – BAYDA

Fighting raged between Yemen’s government forces and Houthi rebels, killing 320 fighters from both sides in central Bayda province since the weekend, health and security officials said Tuesday.

Earlier this month, the Yemeni government backed by a Saudi-led coalition launched a military operation to reclaim Bayda from the Iran-backed Houthis.

Bodies were still lying in mountainous areas of Bayda and inside armoured vehicles that were hit by airstrikes. The International Red Cross was expected to pull them out for burial, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.

Fighting in Bayda came as the Houthis attempt to break through government defences in the strategic city of Marib, also located in central Yemen . The rebels have been attempting since February to capture it from the internationally recognised government, which would complete their control over the northern part of Yemen.