[Iran Press TV Latest] Yemeni and Saudi forces have intensified attacks against the Houthi fighters in Yemen's mountainous north, after sending more reinforcements to the beleaguered region. "Saudi jet fighters resumed their attacks on Saturday night and bombarded" the border area, eyewitnesses quoted by AFP as saying on Sunday.
"There was relative calm on Sunday morning but air operations against the border area are continuing," they added.
Meanwhile, the Saudi military deployed more troops in the Jizan region, according to an AFP correspondent, who said reinforcements were seen on route to Khubah, close to the Houthi positions.
Yemeni forces also pounded Shia positions overnight in Sa'ada province and in Harf Sufyan in Amran province, both north of Sana'a, a Yemeni military official told the news agency.
"Strong clashes erupted in Harf Sufyan between the army and the rebels, supported by tribes," the official said, adding that five tribal members were killed and seven others were wounded.
The clashes came after reinforcements from Sana'a arrived at Harf Sufyan to "help the army gain control of the area," the official said.
This is while sources say that the Yemeni troops are divided over the conflict with some not having a motive to fight the Houthis. According to the sources a large number of soldiers in the Yemeni military are Zaidi Shia, hence sympathetic toward the Houthis.
Last week, Saudi Arabia launched an offensive against Shia fighters, who accuse the kingdom of supporting the Yemeni government in its crackdown.
The government launched Operation Scorched Earth in August in an effort to crush the Houthis, whom it accuses of seeking to restore an imamate that was overthrown in 1962.
The Houthis, however, dismiss the accusations saying they are only seeking to put an end the government's discriminatory policies against them.