Fierce fighting in northern Yemen near Saudi border kills over 75 troops

SANAA, Yemen – Yemeni security sources and witnesses say fierce fighting in northern Yemen’s Hajjah province near the Saudi border has killed more than 75 troops over the past three days.

They say Saturday that the clashes between rebel-allied units and pro-government Yemeni forces killed more than 40 rebels and 35 government troops, with 50 wounded on the rebel side and dozens wounded on the government side.

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READ MORE: Yemen ceasefire was in effect until Friday as UN-sponsored peace talk failed

They say the Yemeni government forces advanced across the border from Saudi territory after training there for months. They spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to brief reporters.

The fighting comes as the Yemeni rebel delegation at peace talks in Switzerland suspended meetings with the internationally recognized government on Friday in protest over its cease-fire violations.