ADEN, Yemen - Fighting flared between Yemeni government forces and Houthi fighters in the southern province of Lahj on Tuesday evening, a military official told Xinhua.

The clashes occurred in the Musaymir area after government forces repelled a Houthi infiltration attempt, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He added that three Houthi fighters were killed and five others wounded.

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A field commander with pro-government forces said the Houthis had been reinforcing their positions. "They have blown up small bridges, planted various types of mines, and dug new underground trenches," the commander told Xinhua, adding that the group had also established roadblocks on the outskirts of Lahj province.

The commander said these preparations suggested the Houthis were anticipating a potential government offensive in the coming days.

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Yemen has been in a state of uneasy calm since Oct 2, 2022, when the government and the Houthi group failed to renew and expand a UN-brokered truce.

Despite years of diplomatic efforts, neither side has shown a willingness to resume negotiations to end the conflict, which the UN estimates has killed hundreds of thousands of people and pushed millions to the brink of famine.