Fierce clashes erupted between the Yemeni army and Houthi militias in the city of Taiz Sunday night.

Government troops countered attempts by Houthi militias to attack posts in western and northern Taiz, sources with the Yemeni resistance, which supports the army, said Monday.

The militias fired heavy artillery at military posts in al Zanouh neighborhood, in a failed attempt to regain control of al Sawmaa and al Taba al Sawdaa sites, the sources said.

Military reinforcements arrived to al Salw district in southeastern Taiz after the renewal of clashes there, the sources added.

Government troops are seeking to regain the villages of al Sayyar, al Houd and al Sharaf from militias loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Arab coalition jets have, meanwhile, hit targets of the militias in al Rabie and al Dabab areas in western Taiz, and Tabet Sofitel in the east of the city.

The jets also renewed strikes against militia sites in al Hadida governorate, northwest of Taiz. Al Hadida airport and a military airport were hit in the raids, as well as an office of Yemen Mobile company.

In the governorate of Eb, north of Taiz, the jets targeted posts of the militias in Jarf al Sufinai area.

Eighteen militants were killed in the clashes that started yesterday and dozens more were injured, according to the media center of the Yemeni military council.

Twelve Yemeni troops were also killed and 11 others wounded in the face-off, the media center added.

Source: MENA