SANAA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's navy forces have repelled attacks by Shiite Houthi rebels on a seaport in northwest Red Sea coast bordering Saudi Arabia, a naval official said on Sunday.

    The navy forces have successfully repelled attacks by Houthi rebels on Medi harbour, the official told Xinhua by telephone from Haja province in condition of anonymity.

    "The rebels have been driven out by the troops who responded to them with very heavy bombardments," he added.

    He said the rebels were trying to control over the harbour through intensified attacks launched during the past couple of nights against the naval soldiers patrolling the port.

    Medi port, which overlooks the Red Sea adjacent to the Saudi border, is located in the far northwestern province of Haja bordering the area of conflict.

    The rebels were infiltrating overnight from the war-torn governorate of Saada in their attempts to find a maritime outlet linking their bastions to the Red Sea, said the official who declined to provide further information.

    Casualties were reported on both sides in the clash.

    Since the start of the ongoing fighting, Yemen has reportedly said alleged foreign powers supply Houthi rebels with weapons through the Red Sea.

    Yemen has recently imposed a naval blockade on its coastal strip in the Red Sea to secure its territorial waters and cut off possible supplies to the insurgency.