Clashes broke out between the Yemeni army and the popular resistance on the one hand, and the militias of Houthi and Saleh on the other hand, in the isolation of Karash north of the province of Lahj in southern Yemen.

A military source revealed that fierce fighting took place between the forces of the National Army and the Houthi militias in the north of the Karash district of the Directorate of Qubaytah in the province of Lahj in various types of heavy and light weapons, adding that the clashes broke out following an attack by militias on the positions of the National Army in the area As well as an attempt to infiltrate the militia towards their positions in the al-Sahi area. The army forces forced the militia to retreat, after it suffered loss of life and military equipment.

In the same context, At least 170 rebel fighters were killed this week in Yemen’s northwestern Hajjah province, the Yemeni army said in a Friday statement. “The Shia Houthi militia and allied forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh lost 170 fighters within the last three days in clashes with pro-government forces in Hajjah,” the statement read.

It went on to assert that Houthi leader Abu Amjad al-Jabri had been among those killed. Anadolu Agency was unable to obtain immediate comment from Houthi or pro-Saleh officials regarding the army’s claims. Yemen has remained in a state of war since 2014 when the Houthis and their allies overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a massive air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen.

Yemeni government forces, backed by air support from the Saudi-led coalition, have killed two Al Qaida commanders in Abyan and arrested several Daesh and Al Qaida operatives in the province, a top army commander told Gulf News on Tuesday.

Colonel Muneer Al Mesha’ali, the commander of elite army troops battling Al Qaida in the province, said that his forces have made big advances in its current offensive against Al Qaida and Daesh in the province of Abyan and the militants are holed up inside small villages or on the mountains.

Speaking briefly to Gulf News from the battlefield, Al Mesha’ali said that his forces killed Mohammad Saleh Al Awsaji, a local Al Qaida commander, in brief clashes in Lawder region on Monday. Al Khadar Basaria, another Al Qaida commander in Wadiya’a district, was found dead in a deserted house in Wadiya’a after he suffered critical injuries following clashes with government forces.

“We have also arrested two Daesh operatives in Abyan. The situation is under control and we are determined to cleanse Abyan of Al Qaida,” Al Mesha’ali said shortly after his forces stormed new areas in Lawader district.