Aden- Jeddah- Yemeni former National Guard commanders, now defectors serving a guerrilla war seeking to override the constitutionally elected government, have reportedly been killed, Yemen-based sources said.

The commanders occupied high-end posts in leading the armed putsch staged by Iran-aligned Houthi militias and loyalists siding with ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Most of the commanders were killed in clashes taking place in Sana’a’s largest district, Nihm.

Pro-government and government forces seized four Zilzal-2 ballistic missiles after capturing Mount Doh in Nihm District, northeastern Sana’a governorate on January 17.

Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi’s government forces reportedly killed the commander of the Fourth Republican Guard Brigade and his Chief of Staff during the attack. The Republican Guard is loyal to Saleh, currently allied with Houthis looking to overthrow Hadi’s government.

Among killed coup leaders were Colonel Mohammed Saleh Naji al Hadri and a number of his companions that were taken down by an Arab Coalition-led air strike in the Saada province.

Putschist Colonel Hamoud Saleh Azman, commander of the Third Battalion of coup special ops was also killed. The sources also confirmed the death of Khaled Yahia Madani, brother in law to Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al Houthi, in Nihm.

On another scope, informed sources said that putschists have blocked the clearance of government-dispensed salaries for state employees in insurgency-held areas.

Houthis enforced a series of measurements cutting off funds sent by the legitimate government. Insurgency leaders ordered state employees to withhold data from the finance ministry, curbing paydays, sources based in insurgency areas told Asharq Al-Awsat.

A document signed by Yahia Badreddin al-Houthi, assigned coup political leader, banned providing the Aden-based Ministry of Finance with any documents or information which would assist the legitimate government with dispensing payment of salaries approved by the national Council of Ministers.