Seven soldiers and several other people were killed Monday in clashes between the Yemeni army and the Huthis close to the capital, tribal and medical sources said.

Seven soldiers and several other people were killed Monday in clashes between the Yemeni army and the Huthis close to the capital, tribal and medical sources said.

The clashes erupted after troops tried to expel the Huthis from a strategic position near Amran controling the road to Sanaa, local officials said.

The air force intervened to back the army and its allies from the Islah party, they said.

Ansarullah group retaliated by attacking different positions and blocked traffic on the main Amran-Sanaa road, the officials said.

"Seven soldiers were killed and 16 others wounded in the battle," a medical source told AFP.

Tribal sources said 18 rebels were also killed, a toll that could not be verified.

The Prime Minister's house was also shot, according to Media reports.