Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally-backed government repulsed an attack launched by the Houthi fighters in the southern province of al-Dhalea on Friday, state news agency reported.

The Houthi rebels launched an attack against military positions in the government-controlled district of Damet of al-Dhalea province, sparking fierce armed confrontations with the soldiers in the area, according to the state-run Saba news agency.

The government soldiers managed to foil the attack, leaving more than 18 Houthi rebels killed and nearly 12 others injured in the area, Saba said.

Local residents confirmed to Xinhua that the Houthis attempted to regain control over some areas they lost during previous battles with the government, but failed.

They said the government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition increased its presence in Damet just a few hours after the attack and deployed new reinforcements.

Fighting is still taking place between the two warring rivals in many different provinces of the war-torn Arab country except in Hodeidah, where weapons are silenced as a result of a cease-fire brokered by the United Nations that went into effect last week.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile.

The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's top humanitarian crisis, with 7 million citizens on the brink of famine.