Yemeni government forces in the southern province of Shabwa announced on Sunday that they repelled a Houthi attack on their positions amid continued expansion of military operations by militias.
On Saturday, the Houthis attacked the Shabwa Defense Forces in the mountains connecting the Merha al-Ulya region to neighboring Baida province, resulting in a fierce battle that reportedly killed and injured scores of soldiers on both sides.
Government troops said the Houthis had been forced to halt their advance and retreat after failing to take control of the highlands, and military reinforcements had been sent to the front lines to ward off any future action.
Unofficial Houthi media sources reported that their troops advanced 8 kilometers into government-controlled territory in Merkh al-Uliya.
A Yemeni official from Shabwa told Arab News that the Houthi attacks were aimed at distracting government soldiers, not occupying the province.
