Sanaa: At least 290 people have been killed this month in clashes between the Yemeni army and Shiite rebels in the country’s northern provinces of Amran and al-Jouf, an interior ministry official said.

About 50 soldiers and 240 rebels were killed and dozens of others wounded in the clashes in Amran and al-Jouf since July 4 following the collapse of the latest truce, Xinhua reported citing an official as saying on condition of anonymity. Military reinforcements were seen arriving at the main entrance of Amran, 50 km north of the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

Early this month, 17 civilians were killed and dozens of local residents injured in the clashes in Amran province, according to residents. The government and Shiite rebels signed two ceasefire deals in June, but the two sides failed to abide by the truce.

The officials accused the rebels of seeking to expand control over the country’s northern regions.