Senior Yemen’s Military Official Killed in Clashes With Houthi Rebels

One of the top generals in the forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi’s government, commander of Yemen’s third military district, was killed together with several accompanying servicemen in a clash with the Houthi forces in the west of the Marib province, according to a source.

SANAA (Sputnik) — One of the top generals in the forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi’s government was killed in a fighting with Houthi rebels, officially called Ansar Allah, in the Marib province, a source told Sputnik on Saturday.

“General Abdel-Rab al-Shadadi, commander of [Yemen’s] third military district, was killed together with several accompanying servicemen in a clash with the Houthi forces in the west of the Marib province,” the source said.

The Marib province is located in the central part of Yemen, with the Houthi rebels having a military advantage there.

Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by Hadi and Houthi rebels since 2014. The Houthis are backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Since March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the opposition Houthis at the request of ousted Hadi.