ADEN, Yemen, April 19 (Xinhua) -- At least two members of Yemen's government forces were killed during an attack by the Houthi militia in the country's southern province of Lahj on Wednesday, a military official said.
"The Houthi fighters launched an assault on government forces stationed near the Yafea region of Lahj, sparking intense armed confrontations in the area," the local military official said on condition of anonymity.
The official said that the fighting continued for hours between the two warring sides, leaving two soldiers killed and a number of others injured at the scene.
"The government forces stationed in Yafea thwarted the Houthi attack and forced the rebels to eventually withdraw from the area," he added.
During the last few months, the Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks against government troops stationed in the mountainous area of Yafea, utilizing their bases located in the nearby Al-Bayda province, according to the official.
Earlier this week, the Yemeni warring factions swapped nearly 900 prisoners and detainees in a three-day operation facilitated by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). ■
