Military sources said the Houthis re-took positions on November 8 that they had lost to Saudi-led coalition forces in recent months, including a key overlook to the strategic Al-Anad airbase in Lahj province which borders Aden.
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A second convoy of Emirati military vehicles manned by pro-government fighters arrived in Taez city on Monday as the Saudi-led coalition said it was focusing on driving rebel forces from the province.
AFP reports that 400 Sudanese soldiers arrived in the Yemeni port city of Aden, in support of ousted President Hadi.
Backed by coalition strikes, supplies and troops, loyalist forces launched a major counter-offensive in July, pushing the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces – Lahj, Daleh, Abyan, and Shabwa.
“General mobilization was been declared in Daleh”, where the Houthi fighters recaptured another nearby city, Damt, on Saturday, a local official told AFP.
“The Houthis and the army units supporting them established control over the town of Damt and a military camp Sadreen in Ad Dali governorate after fierce fighting that killed dozens of people from both sides”, the source said.
Six loyalists and 11 rebels were killed.
Pro-government troops seized Dhubab early last month, giving them effective control of Bab al-Mandab, through which much of the world’s maritime traffic passes.
More than 50 people were killed in Yemen at the weekend in fighting that pits an Arab coalition against Houthi fighters backed by troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, medical sources and residents said.
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The United Nations is hoping to announce next week a date for talks between the government and the rebels.
