(CNN) -- Armed gunmen attacked members of Yemen's Republican Guard on Friday, killing four soldiers, according to three tribal leaders.
The soldiers returned fire, killing four of the gunmen, the leaders told CNN.
Six government tanks were destroyed during the battle, while four more were seized by the rebels, the tribal leaders claimed.
The confrontation occurred in the Mareb Province, located in the northern part of the war-torn country. Tribal leaders said the attack was carried out by individuals with ties to al Qaeda, which has a strong presence in the area.
The leaders said the attack was planned in advance and is part of a typical pattern of assaults on government troops in the area.
On Thursday, gunmen killed five members of the Republican Guard in Lahj, a province in the southern part of the country. Two gunmen were killed in that incident while four more wounded.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack. The attackers, however, are believed to be affiliated with a rebel group that has been fighting for secession from northern Yemen.
CNN's Christine Theodorou and journalist Hakim Almasmari contributed to this report.
