Yemen: fighting in Marib, 50 dead including an army commander

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Fighting between rebels and government forces continued to rage on Saturday in Yemen's Marib province, where at least 50 fighters were killed including the commander of special forces in that region, loyalist military sources said.

   The Houthi rebels, who have been trying to seize Marib for more than a year, resumed their offensive on February 8 against this last stronghold under power in the north of the country at war.

   According to one of the military sources, "22 members of the government forces and more than 28 rebels have perished in the last 24 hours in the fighting which continues non-stop on the fronts of the province of Marib".

   In the war in Yemen, a Saudi-led military coalition militarily assists government forces in the face of Houthi rebels.

   According to the chain of rebels Al-Massirah, this coalition carried out more than 12 air raids in support of the government forces on the ground.

   On Friday, more than 60 fighters were killed in Marib, the bloodiest day since the battle began on February 8.

   The province of Marib, 120 km east of the capital Sana'a, is located near oil fields.

   After a sharp drop in fighting for several months, the rebels resumed their offensive against Marib on 8 February.

Since then, the clashes have left hundreds of fighters on both sides dead, according to government sources, and forced hundreds of families to flee.

   The Houthis generally do not disclose their losses.