Sana, Asharq Al-Awsat- Official sources from the Yemeni province of Sa’dah have revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that government forces have managed to seize control over several strategic bases belonging to the Shiite rebels.

The source said that both sides sustained significant losses and injury with at least 25 soldiers and 20 Shiite rebels killed over the past five days. This brings the death toll from the clashes up to 315 rebels and 157 soldiers since January.

The government source also revealed that Houthi’s group specialized in Guerrilla warfare particularly in mountainous areas, but that the group has been weakened after numerous clashes with government forces.

The government of the Sunni-dominated Arab state accuses the rebels of seeking to oust its secular administration and install Islamist rule. The rebels say they are defending their villages against what they call government aggression.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered the army in January to crack down on Houthi and his group, whom the government says preaches violence against the United States.