JEDDAH: A senior field leader in the Houthi militia was killed in clashes with the Yemeni army in the Maran area, south-west of Saada province on Friday. Yemeni field sources said: “The leader of the militia, called Ali Hussein Shaibah Baazli, was killed with a number of his aides and guards, in an artillery attack on targeted rebel positions.” In a statement broadcast by the Yemeni Ministry of Defense site, September Net, the source explained that Baazli was considered a close associate of Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi and was one of the founders of the Iranian-backed militia. The source also confirmed the death of Houthi leaders Jaber Hussein Abu Lahi, along with Houthi supervisors Yahya Ali Akbi and Ali Naji Khlouf in the same artillery strike. Yemeni National Army forces, along with the Saudi-led coalition, have been fighting fierce battles since last Tuesday, during which they have made significant progress in the main stronghold of Maran.