A message on a Defense Ministry Web site Sunday says there are increasing reports about the death of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.  The Web site says there are reports that he was severely wounded and died from his injuries and has already been buried in Jabel Tolan in the northern Malaheeth area.

The rebels did not immediately comment on the report.

Yemen has been intensifying its operations against rebels and suspected al-Qaida terrorists, conducting a series of airstrikes and other raids that it says resulted in militant deaths and arrests. 

Yemen's government and Houthi rebels have been battling sporadically since 2004.