SANAA, Sept. 19 -- At least 44 people were killed in fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi group over the past 24 hours, military sources from both sides said Saturday.

A government military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that battles were raging across southwestern Taiz and Lahj provinces, with both sides sending reinforcements to contested fronts stretching toward the key waterway.

In Taiz, fierce clashes continued in the Al-Kadha and Al-Wazi'iyah areas, where government forces repelled several Houthi attacks over the past 24 hours, leaving six government soldiers and 11 Houthi fighters dead, according to the source.

"The Houthis sent in large reinforcements and tried to break through our d...