Al-Houthi rebel groups claimed they took control over portions of northern Saada and Amran provinces held by the 105th division of the Yemeni armed forces.

Sources to the official Saba news agency said the rebel allegations "are only to hide their defeats" at the hands of government forces.

The same sources said government troops had "cleaned" several districts in Saada province during gun battles with rebel fighters.

Al-Houthi rebel leaders, meanwhile, denied claims that government forces had killed Saleh Habra, who is identified as a regional spokesman for the Shiite guerrilla movement.

Rebel leaders said the spokesman was not involved any of the combat operations in the past few weeks.

Government and rebel forces have fought one another on and off since 2004. Yemen launched a major offensive against the group Aug. 12, creating a humanitarian disaster along the border with Saudi Arabia.

By U.N. estimates, the conflict has created roughly 150,000 internally displaced persons in the north.