ADEN, Yemen, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Despite recent diplomatic efforts towards peace, heavy clashes between the Yemeni army and the Houthi militia were reignited in the country's oil-rich province of Marib, a military official told Xinhua on Wednesday.
The local military official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that ferocious armed confrontations erupted late on Tuesday night in Marib's district of Harib, causing panic and fear among the local residents in nearby villages.
The resurgence of fighting threatens the fragile peace process bolstered by the recent agreement between the warring Yemeni sides to exchange hundreds of war prisoners under the auspices of the United Nations.
"The bloody fighting involved the use of heavy weapons by both sides, as they fiercely battled to gain control over the strategically important area of Harib," said the official.
"In an attempt to isolate pro-government forces, the Houthi group severed communication lines in Harib district and surrounding areas simultaneously with the fighting on the ground," he added.
The Houthi group mobilized its fighters in an apparent attempt to seize control of Harib and gain access to the oil fields, refinery, and gas power plant located in nearby areas in Marib, according to the official.
A medical source confirmed to Xinhua that the overnight fighting left 11 government soldiers and eight Houthi fighters killed with several injuries from both sides.
Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthis fighting against the internationally-recognized government and its allies, which include a Saudi Arabia-led coalition.
The UN has been pushing for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen, which has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
The conflict brought the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of collapse causing famine and widespread suffering as well as disrupting the country's food supply chain, leaving millions of people without access to adequate nutrition. ■
