Renewed fighting against Houthi rebels in Yemen has left ten soldiers dead, military sources told AFP on Wednesday (March 22nd), despite diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that has lasted since 2014.

The clashes took place in the oil-rich province of Marib, the last stronghold of power in the north and scene of sporadic fighting, even during a truce in hostilities in force since last April.

Saudi Arabia vs Iran

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked a mountainous area and are stepping up their numbers in the area, two military sources told AFP. "The Houthis launched an attack on the hills overlooking Harib district, south of Marib, and advanced on this front, causing the displacement of dozens of families," one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"At least 10 soldiers were killed, as well as an undetermined number" of fighters among the opposing forces, the source added in his remarks confirmed by a second military officer.

The fighting comes a month after at least four soldiers were killed in the same area, and as Saudi Arabia and Iran, which support opposing parties in the war, announced the restoration of diplomatic relations, giving Yemenis a glimmer of hope after nearly 10 years of conflict.

>> Read: The rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a first step for peace in Yemen?

Negotiations

The UN also announced on Monday an agreement reached in Switzerland between the government and the rebels on an exchange of more than 880 prisoners, inviting the two sides to continue negotiations.

The prisoner exchange is good news for hundreds of Yemeni families, but "much remains to be done" to end the conflict in Yemen, warned the UN envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg.

But the current regional momentum and "serious diplomatic efforts undertaken at different levels" could help move in this direction, he added.

In the same context of rapprochement between the two heavyweights of the region, who announced on March 10 their decision to restore diplomatic relations, the UN announced Monday an agreement reached in Switzerland between the government and the rebels on an exchange of more than 880 prisoners, inviting the two parties to continue negotiations.

"I am pleased to announce that both sides have approved a plan to release 887 detainees," UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg said Monday after ten days of talks hosted by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

'Serious diplomatic efforts'

The participants "agreed to meet again in mid-May to discuss a new prisoner exchange," he added, adding that "the exchange would take place in three weeks."

The prisoner exchange is good news for hundreds of Yemeni families, but "much remains to be done" to end the conflict in Yemen, he warned.

But the current regional momentum and "serious diplomatic efforts undertaken at different levels" could help move in this direction, he added.

According to the UN, the civil war that broke out in 2014 has left hundreds of thousands dead, millions displaced, and plunged two-thirds of the population into need of aid, with a situation close to large-scale famine.

A UN-brokered ceasefire, which went into effect in April 2022, has significantly reduced hostilities. It expired in October after the warring parties failed to reach an agreement to renew it, but fighting remains relatively rare.

With AFP

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