Fighters under the command of Yemen's Southern Transitional Council inflicted "big losses" on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels while recapturing more areas of the oil-rich Shabwa province on Wednesday, a spokesman said.

Al Amalika Southern Forces, backed by the Arab coalition supporting the government, regained control of a military base and other areas between Usaylan and Bayhan districts in Shabwa, Aseel Al Sakladi, the head of Al Amalika media centre, told The National.

“On Wednesday, our forces advanced in territory held by the Houthi rebels in western Shabwa, they recaptured the Infantry Brigade 163 base and took full control over Al Suleim and Al Safra areas, killing more than 40 rebels and seizing weapons and military equipment,“ Mr Al Sakladi said.

On Tuesday, Al Amalika fighters seized Al Noqub city in Usaylan and heavily shelled Houthi positions to the west, paving the way for troops to advance towards Bayhan district and the neighbouring rebel-held province of Al Bayda.

“The Houthi militia have been suffering big losses in the recent battles in Shabwa," Mr Al Sakladi said. The rebels left behind dozens of slain comrades in Al Noqub, he said.

The Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia carried out at least 36 air strikes on the rebels in western Shabwa on Wednesday, including one that killed the Houthi deputy governor of Shabwa, Ahmed Al Hamza, as he fled the area with other high-ranking rebels, residents of Bayhan told The National.

They said the Houthi-appointed governors of Lahj province, Ahmed Jareeb, and of Al Mahrah province, Al Qatabi Al Faraji, were injured in the strike.

“A precise air strike struck their convoy on Al Kanda road as they were heading towards Sanaa,“ a resident said.

He said the rebels had begun abandoning their positions in Bayhan, fearing more strikes by coalition warplanes.

“They left the military base of the 19th Brigade in the centre of Bayhan. People were seen looting food supplies left behind by the Houthis.“

They said the Houthi-appointed governors of Lahj province, Ahmed Jareeb, and of Al Mahrah province, Al Qatabi Al Faraji, were injured in the strike.

“A precise air strike struck their convoy on Al Kanda road as they were heading towards Sanaa,“ a resident said.

He said the rebels had begun abandoning their positions in Bayhan, fearing more strikes by coalition warplanes.

“They left the military base of the 19th Brigade in the centre of Bayhan. People were seen looting food supplies left behind by the Houthis.“