ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally-backed government aborted an attack launched by the Houthi group in the country's central province of al-Bayda on Wednesday, killing at least 18 rebels.

According to a brief statement released by Media Center of the armed forces, the Houthis attempted to sneak into a military site manned by government forces in Malajem area of al-Bayda province.

But the government forces engaged in armed confrontations with the Houthis and managed to repulse the attack that resulted in killing 18 rebels, the statement said.

The statement said also that mid-level commanders of the Iranian-backed Houthi group were among the killed militants during the fighting with government forces in al-Bayda province.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia with other Arab countries intervened militarily and began pounding the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa in March 2015 in response to an official public request from Hadi to protect Yemen and roll back Iran's influence.