ADEN, Jan 6, Reuters - The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen retaken several areas in the energy-prducing provinces of Marib and Shabwa to resist advances by the Houthi movement in fierce fighting that has stymied United Nations-led peace efforts.
Since the start of the year, the coalition has increased the battles after it sent reinforcements to Shabwa, where inroads by the Iran-aligned Houthi group have cut access to the Saudi-backed government's last northern stronghold in Marib.
Marib has been the focus of the seven-year war in central Yemen for over a year. The province's main city and nearby oil and gas infrastructure is held by the government.
Yemeni forces, including the UAE-backed Giants Brigade, restored control on parts of Assilan in Shabwa and are pushing towards Bayhan. Two military sources told Reuters that dozens of people have been killed in the past week's fighting.
Three other military and tribal sources said that pro-government fighters have taken over some areas on the southern and western outskirts of Marib city.
Marib city is home to three million people, including nearly 1 million who fled to other parts of Yemen after the Houthis ousted Sanaa from the capital in late 2014, prompting the coalition to intervene months later.
Coalition warplanes have carried out intense air strikes in Yemen, including on Houthi military targets in the capital Sanaa. The group has kept up cross-border drone and missile attacks on Saudi cities.
The conflict is seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression.