Governor of Shabwa Ahmed Bahaj has died of wounds after his car had a road accident following an ambush by Houthi militants, local sources said on Saturday, while adding that he died on way to abroad.
The ambush was carried out after fierce clashes between pro-government resistance and Houthi militants around Ataq, the capital of Shabwa, on Friday, they said.
The sources said Bahaj was being transferred into Saudi Arabia for treatment.
Bahaj led the pro-government resistance in Shabwa after chief of the regional military command colluded with the Houthi militants and forces loyal to the former president allowing them to station in the oil-rich province.
Separately, agencies reported that sporadic clashes between Saudi forces and Houthi militants took place in the past 24 hours after Houthis shelled border Saudi towns.
The Houthis have been shelling Saudi cities on the border with Yemen in response to Saudi-led Arab military operation which was launched on March 26.
In the adjacent province of Abyan, battles broke out between the local popular resistance and Houthis after the latter were surrounded at the mountain where they have been stationed, local sources said.
The pro-government resistance fighters are surrounding the mountain and the Houthis are firing tanks and artillery in response, they said.
In Dhale and Taiz, Houthis shelled populated areas killing several civilians after the pro-government resistance fighters launched attacks against them, sources said.