Clashes between pro Sunni tribes and Houthi fighters escalated Thursday and Friday resulting in the death of 18 and the injury of at least 39 from both sides.

Tribal sources confirmed that clashes were escalating in Hajjah province, and started when Houthi fighters attacked their posts.

Houthis claim otherwise, and blame the tribes for torturing and attacking Houthi followers in Hajjah.

Other clashes took place between Salafi Sunni groups and Houthi Shia fighters in Sa’ada province, near the Saudi-Yemeni border.

The clashes in Sa’ada resulted in the killing of four Houthis and two Salafi fighters.

Houthi spiritual leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi blamed sides for supporting the Salafi fighters and said that certain sides were in favor of the clashes to escalate.

In the press statement that Yemen Post received a copy of, al-Houthi warned that foreign sides will benefit from the ongoing clashes in Yemen and that this crisis must come to an end through a compromise and all sides learning to live next to one another.

More than 200 people have died in sectarian violence since September in north Yemen.

Houthis control large areas near the Saudi border with Yemen raising Saudi fears that a Shia state could soon be located on its southern borders.