ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Eight pro-government Yemeni soldiers were killed when ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels struck their military base in the country's southern province of Lahj on Sunday, a local government official told Xinhua.

"The Houthi militia targeted a military base of the government forces in Lahj province with three ballistic missiles, causing huge explosions in the area," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Initial information indicated that nearly eight soldiers were killed and more than 20 others injured, he said, adding that the soldiers were gathering for morning military training when the explosions occurred.

Ambulances transferred the injured to nearby public hospitals in Lahj, he said.

Yemen's internationally-recognized government, allied with the Saudi-led Arab military coalition, has for about seven years been battling with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for control of the impoverished Arab country.

Despite continuing military operations by government forces, Houthis are still positioned in strategic mountainous areas close to Lahj, where Sudanese troops and other forces of the Saudi-led coalition have been training newly-recruited Yemeni government soldiers to fight the Houthi rebels. Enditem

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