After a tense calm in the old Saada city over the last two days, fierce confrontations are now shaking the city with the army launching a major offensive against the Houthi insurgents.
The troops pushed inside the city after a policeman was sniped early Monday, destroying the shelters of the Houthi fighters.
During the operation, 3 rebels were killed and 12 others, including field leaders, surrendered.
About 24 sleeper Houthi cells also gave up as the troops stressed on cleansing many Saada parts.
Before the offensive, the army called on the rebels to leave their strongholds inside the city and it renewed the warning using microphones but the rebels did not give ear to the bid.
The move comes as the army continues to battle the rebels and cleanse many northern areas of them, killing and wounding fighters and destroying and seizing positions and hotbeds of the Houthis.
Cars carrying weapons were also destroyed and the troops are advancing in many war fronts in Saada and Amran.
Amid bids of insurgency extension in Yemen and Saudi border areas, the Houthi rebels are facing resistance by tribesmen and the armies of both neighbors forcing them out of many previous rebellion centers and killing many of them.