ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Armed confrontations between pro-government forces and Houthi militants erupted Friday in southwestern Yemen's Taiz province, leaving two soldiers dead and four others injured, a military official told Xinhua.
The local pro-government official, who requested anonymity, said the clashes occurred on the Kalaba front, northeast of Taiz city, as Houthi militants attempted to advance into government-controlled positions during the past hours.
"The Houthis are mobilizing their fighters in several areas of Taiz, fearing on-ground advancement by the government forces," the official added.
On Thursday, the Yemeni armed forces loyal to the internationally recognized government declared their readiness to confront the Houthis, describing the group as being in a state of "confusion and weakness."
Yemen has been in a state of uneasy calm since Oct. 2, 2022, when the government and the Houthi group failed to renew and expand a UN-brokered truce.
Despite years of diplomatic efforts, neither side has shown a willingness to resume negotiations to end the conflict, which the UN estimates has killed hundreds of thousands of people and pushed millions to the brink of famine. ■
