At least 65 dead in battle for Marib, Yemen: Military
Sixty-five members of the Iran-backed Houthi militia and pro-government forces have been killed in renewed fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib, a military official told AFP on Thursday.
The fighting started when the Houthis launched attacks on pro-government positions south of the city, despite losing dozens of fighters to coalition air strikes.
“In the last 48 hours, 22 pro-government [forces] have been killed and 50 others wounded, while 43 Houthi [militia] have also been killed,” a government military official claimed, citing figures confirmed by other military and medical sources.
The fighting comes after bombings in Yemen’s south killed at least 30 pro-government fighters on Sunday, in the country’s deadliest incident since December.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is supported by an Arab military coalition, has been at odds with the Houthis since the Houthis took the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
The Houthis escalated their efforts to seize Marib, the government’s last northern stronghold, in February, in fighting that has killed hundreds on both sides.
The Houthis’ bargaining position in peace talks would be enhanced if they could control the oil-rich region.
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