Sanaa (Dec 27th, 2008) At least 18 Yemeni soldiers died in fighting in between army and Houthi militias in Marib province, an oil-rich region.This was according to a military source.According to a source, 18 soldiers died in battles in desert areas of al-Balak al-Sharki (southern Marib),” the source said to Xinhua’s news agency on Sunday.
He said that many Houthis were killed by airstrikes by the Saudi-led Arab alliance, but did not give a precise number.
Al-Masirah TV, which is run by the Houthi-run group al-Masirah TV, reported that 16 coalition airstrikes were conducted on al-Balak al-Sharki without giving further information.
The Iran-backed militia have made major advances in the past months in Marib, seizing control of several districts around the government-controlled central city.
The rebel group launched a massive offensive in February to seize the province of oil-rich Yemen, which was the last stronghold for the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
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