ADEN, Yemen, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels seized on Wednesday a key district after several hours of fierce fighting with government forces in the country's southern province of al-Dhalea, a military official told Xinhua.

The local source who asked to remain anonymous said that Houthis launched in the past hours a series of intense attacks on the positions of government forces and seized the district of Al Husha, west of al-Dhalea province.

He said that the Houthis entered the center of the district and deployed their fighters in most of the areas following the withdrawal of pro-government forces.

Other local sources said that Saudi-backed Yemeni government started mobilizing forces to attack the Houthis and recapture Al Husha district.

Houthis gained progress on-ground and advanced into the government-controlled areas during the past few days despite the intensified aerial bombardment carried out by the Saudi-led warplanes, according to local residents.

The areas in the north and west of al-Dhalea have been witnessing continuous fighting between government forces and Houthi fighters for nearly four years.

Yemen has been plagued by a civil war since late 2014 after Houthi rebels revolted against the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The rebels advanced from their far northern stronghold of Saada Province toward the south, and seized control over much of the country's north including Sanaa, thus triggering the civil war.