Fighting between forces loyal to the internationally recognized Yemeni government and Shiite rebels in the northern Arab province of Marib has claimed the lives of at least 90 protesters in the past two days, sources in the French government said on Tuesday. first.
The Houthis, known as the Iranian-backed Zaydi rebels, have launched an offensive since February to seize the last stronghold of the internationally recognized government in the north of the war-torn country, despite diplomatic efforts to declare a ceasefire.
Almost all of northern Yemen is in rebel hands, which also controls the country’s capital, Sanaa.
Government forces repulsed attacks by Houthis on various fronts north of the provincial capital Marib, in fierce battles in which 63 rebels and 27 fighters loyal to the internationally recognized government were killed, according to the latter officials.
The province of Marib, famous for its oil wealth as well as for its strategic and political importance, had experienced relative calm in recent weeks as diplomatic contacts between UN and US leaders were under way.
But Houthi attacks have become more “frequent” in recent days, said an official of the internationally recognized government, whose forces are backed on the ground by the military alliance led by neighboring Saudi Arabia, a major rival to Shiite Iran in the region.
Fighting in Marib on Saturday killed 47 people, including 16 fighters loyal to the internationally recognized government.
For their part, the Houthis rarely report losses in their ranks.
Armed conflict in Yemen erupted in 2014, with the Houthis launching a large-scale offensive from their strongholds to the north. Since then, the country has been the worst humanitarian disaster in the world according to the UN, with tens of thousands dead and the population on the brink of starvation.
During a visit to Vienna on Tuesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan told a news conference that Riyadh would like to “end the war and turn to politics”, expressing disappointment with the to declare a ceasefire.
Last week, the UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, acknowledged the failure of diplomatic efforts to end the armed conflict in the country, following his three-year mission.
The Houthis are urging Riyadh to end its air and naval blockade of their country, which they see as a condition for agreeing to a ceasefire.
In addition to their offensive in Marib, the rebels regularly fire rockets and UAVs at Saudi Arabia, targeting mainly oil installations.
