DHALEA CITY, Yemen, July 3 (NNN-SABA) – Scores of families left the northern parts of Yemen’s southern province of Dhalea, as fighting heavily intensified between government forces and the Houthi rebels.
The fighting escalated, following an attack launched by government forces, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, to recapture key military sites from Houthis’ control, near Qataba district, to the northern part of Dhalea, said a security official.
He said that the fighting over the control of a number of villages near Qataba entered a new phase of escalation, using heavy artillery bombardment between the two warring rivals.
Within two days, fighting forced about 26 families to flee and establish a temporary displacement camp in Al Hussein district, to the north-eastern part of Dhalea province, without adequate food assistance, according to local security source.
A displaced citizen said, the intense fighting forced many families to flee as it is still continuing.
“We left our houses in Qataba to take shelter here in Al Hussein district, away from the ongoing war.”
“But our new suffering started here, as we don’t have enough tents and spend our nights under heavy rains,” he said.
Another displaced citizen, Khaled Eshaq, said, “Our life is full of pains after leaving our houses. We demand the United Nations to help us.”
Earlier, intense fighting continued for several hours between the two warring rivals near Qataba, leaving casualties among both sides.
About four government soldiers and six Houthi fighters were killed during the armed confrontations, according to military official based in Dhalea.
In April, the Iranian-allied Houthi fighters launched a series of intense armed attacks on the positions of government forces and succeeded in seizing the district of Al Husha, in the west of Dhalea.– NNN-SABA
