Battles between the Salafists and the Shiite Houthi Group in northern Yemen renewed on Monday and there have been reports of deaths from both sides, Almasdar Online reported quoting local sources.
The battles erupted after Houthi followers stopped Salafists at a checkpoint in the Ashash area in Saada province, it said.
“Argument between Salafists and Shiites at the checkpoint turned into violence and firing and shelling followed,” the sources said, adding, “but there has been no precise number of victims from both sides”, according to the website.
A website run by the Houthi Group confirmed the incident saying one was killed and others injured, Almasdar added.
The Salafist were four including two unarmed people and after the incident Houthis dispatched more fighters and arrested the unarmed, it said, pointing out the other two Salafists fought back from inside a watch room adjacent to the checkpoint.
“The Houthis shelled the room with rockets killing those inside,” the website said.
Since the popular uprising erupted in early 2011 leading to a power vacuum in many parts of Yemen, the Saudi-backed Salafists and Iranian-backed Shiites in Saada have fought several times, with many fighters from both sides killed and injured.
The latest battles in mid-last year were ceased through tribal mediation and government intervention.