SANAA: Sunni Al Qaeda militants killed dozens of Shia rebels on Saturday in the city of Radda in central Yemen as they pushed back the rebels’ advance on the Al Qaeda stronghold, tribal sources said.

Shia Houthi rebel forces have advanced into central and western Yemen since they seized control of the country’s capital Sanaa on Sept 21. Fighting has flared in several provinces.

In Radda, in central al-Bayda province, clashes intensified on Tuesday with 30 Houthis and 18 Sunni militants killed in bloody clashes.

On Saturday, Al Qaeda fighters surrounded the Houthis on a mountain in Radda and killed dozens of them, forcing them to retreat to Damar province.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014