Yemeni government troops took control Saturday of the city of Ataq, two days after deadly clashes between loyalists and southern separatists in the capital of Shabwa province, a pro-government source said. Fighting between the troops and forces linked to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) broke out in Shabwa on Thursday night, in the latest such confrontation. At least 11 people have been killed, medical sources told AFP. Fighters from the Elite Forces - established in 2016 with the support of the United Arab Emirates - "were forced to retreat after entering a number of government buildings" in Ataq, the source told AFP. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said the government troops took control of one of the Elite Forces' military camps.

"Fighting between the two sides has moved to the outskirts of the city," added the source. The two have sent reinforcements to the area, the rival sides said on Saturday. The flare-up in Shabwa comes after deadly clashes earlier this month between the government and troops from the so-called Security Belt, who are dominated by separatists seeking an independent south, erupted in Yemen's de-facto capital Aden.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019