ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of pro-government security forces was killed by the Houthi rebels in the ongoing battles in Yemen's northeastern province of Marib on Saturday, a military official told Xinhua.

"Abdul-Ghani Shaalan, commander of the pro-government special security forces in Marib, was killed as a result of the Houthi offensive on the strategic oil-rich area," the local military source said on condition of anonymity.

He said that the group's militants controlled a strategic mountain overlooking key areas of Marib's western part following intense battles with the government forces.

The government forces pushed large reinforcements and attempted to retake the mountain, but lost a number of soldiers including key security officers during the fighting, he added.

On Friday, a brief statement released by Yemeni Ministry of Defence said "34 members of the Houthi militia were killed, and others were injured, by the army forces in the fighting in Marib's western areas."

The clashes erupted early this month as the Houthis tried to advance towards Marib. Dozens were either killed or injured from both sides in the non-stop armed confrontations in Marib amid heavy airstrikes carried out by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition.

Escalation of fighting between the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia has displaced nearly 1,500 families from Marib's western areas so far.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni military conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem

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