DUBAI: Intense fighting in southwest Yemen has resulted in the deaths of over 140 fighters amid clashes between Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels, according to military sources.
From midday Saturday to early Sunday morning, at least 84 members of the Saudi-backed government forces were killed, primarily due to missile strikes, as reported by two military officials who spoke to AFP. Meanwhile, four Houthi sources indicated that 57 of their fighters lost their lives during the same time frame.
The recent flare-up in violence is part of ongoing battles for control of a crucial gateway to the Red Sea. This escalation represents the deadliest fighting in Yemen since a ceasefire was broken in July 2022.
The hostilities began Thursday when the Houthis launched an offensive aimed at isolating the government-held port city of Mokha, which has faced heavy fire for weeks. Their goal is to push toward regions near the Bab al-Mandab chokepoint, located at the southern entry point of the Red Sea.
An AFP count, utilizing information from various military and medical sources from both sides, has indicated that over 300 fighters and some civilians have been killed since the Houthi attacks started on Thursday.
An official from the internationally recognized government based in Aden noted that fighting had eased in the early hours of Sunday. The official mentioned that government forces had secured positions north of Hays after making advances in that region, which is located less than 30 kilometers from the Red Sea coast. However, the Houthis have gained ground to the west of Taiz, moving south towards the Bab al-Mandab.
The Bab al-Mandab is becoming increasingly significant as a transit route for oil from Saudi Arabia, especially following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels.
A fragile truce between the Houthis and Yemen’s government collapsed in July after the rebels celebrated the arrival of an Iranian plane in Sanaa, leading to renewed hostilities.
The conflict between the Iran-aligned Houthis and the government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia—an ally of the U.S.—is seen as part of a larger struggle in the Middle East, which intensified in late February with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Additionally, the Houthis have declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, targeting its vessels and territory.
