Clashes in Yemen kill senior army officer

CAIRO — Clashes between Yemeni government forces and the country’s Houthi rebels attacking the key central city of Marib left a senior military commander dead Monday, officials said.

The development is a blow to the forces of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which have been fighting for months against the Iranian-backed Houthis’ attempt to take Marib. The Houthis launched an offensive on the city earlier this year in an effort to complete their control over the northern half of Yemen.

Maj. Gen. Nasser al-Dhaibani, who headed military operations of the government’s armed forces, was killed on the front line in the Balaq mountain range south of Marib, said two officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Al-Dhaibani was inspecting government troops and allied tribal fighters trying to stave off the Houthi attack. Government forces had earlier advanced a few miles after fierce battles south of the city, one of the officials said.

The rebels stepped up attacks on Marib in recent weeks, sending waves of fighters to try to breach government defenses. Hundreds died in the clashes, mostly rebels, the official added.

A Saudi-led coalition, which is fighting on the side of the government forces, said it launched at least 35 airstrikes on rebel positions around Marib over the weekend, killing at least 200 Houthis.