In northern Yemen, at least 25 people have been killed in fierce clashes between Shiite rebels and pro-government tribesmen, in which government troops were also involved. An official in the Interior Ministry said, with this the deth toll in clashes rose to 51 during the past five days. He said the overnight battle killed 15 soldiers of the Yemeni Republican Guards and about 10 pro-government tribesmen of Sheikh Sageer Aziz in Harf Sufian district of Amran province, north of the capital Sanaa. On Tuesday, at least 18 tribesmen and eight northern Shiite rebels were killed in the clash. The escalating battles that also cut off the highway between provinces of Amran and Saada came following an ambush that killed three Shiite rebels who are also known as the Houthis. Rebels blamed the government troops for the ambush while the families of the dead Houthis accused Aziz's tribes. Since 2004, Yemen has witnessed sporadic battles between the government troops and the Shiite Houthi rebels.