Local sources told Al Jazeera that the Houthis took control of the two districts of Ain and Bayhan in Shabwa governorate, east of Yemen, on Tuesday.
The sources stated that the Houthi militia moved into the center of the Ain district, northwest of Ataq, the capital of Shabwa governorate, and imposed their control over it.
The same sources indicated that the Houthis have launched a massive attack for days, during which they bypassed the army's defense lines in the upper Baihan.
There was no immediate official comment from the Yemeni government regarding these developments.
Baihan District is about 200 km from Ataq, the provincial capital.
This directorate has strategic importance as it is located on the main road between Shabwa and Ma'rib governorates.
Government accusations
Citizens posted on social media videos showing Houthi military patrols inside the Ain and Bihan districts, accusing the legitimate leadership of "failure".
Anadolu Agency quoted a number of residents of the province as saying that tribesmen in some villages resisted the Houthis, but the large forces mobilized by the group prevailed.
In the same context, the German News Agency said that there are clashes taking place in parts of the Usaylan district of the governorate, amid great progress by the Houthis.
The Houthis had previously taken control of several areas in the oil province of Shabwa, and government forces, with the support of the Saudi-led coalition, were able to regain those sites in early 2018.
The advance of the Houthis in Shabwa coincides with their celebration today of the seventh anniversary of their control of the capital, Sanaa, on September 21, 2014.