14 Yemeni Government Troops Killed in Houthi Attack South of Hodeidah
Iran-backed Houthi rebels killed at least 14 Yemeni government troops in an attack south of the port city of Hodeidah, the deadliest such assault in years, as the long-running civil war shows signs of renewed escalation.
Deadly Houthi Attack in Hodeidah
The clashes occurred in the Jabal Dubas area of Hays district, beginning late Friday and ending with a government counterattack at dawn Saturday. [1] Houthis briefly seized positions before being repelled. [3] Houthi forces used snipers in the initial assault, causing most of the 14 deaths and 23 injuries among government troops, followed by drone and mortar attacks. [1] An officer with pro-government forces in the Jabal Dubas area of Hays district confirmed that the clashes took place in “fierce fighting” and that the Houthis briefly took control of pro-government positions before a counterattack concluded at dawn on Saturday. [3] The officer described how the rebels attacked with snipers that accounted for most of the casualties before launching drone and mortar salvos. [1] A military official aligned with the government stated that 14 troops had been killed and that pro-government forces had repelled the Houthi attack in Hays district in clashes lasting for several hours. [4] The officer with pro-government forces added that this was the deadliest Houthi attack in years. [3]
Government and Houthi Casualties
A Yemeni minister aligned with the government reported more than 50 Houthi fighters killed and dozens wounded. [4] Pro-government sources confirmed casualties on the Houthi side but gave no specific toll. [1] Walid al-Qudaimi, a minister of state and cabinet member aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, said on Saturday evening that the soldiers from the Tihama region died during fighting in the Jabal Dabbas area. [4] In a post on X, al-Qudaimi said the troops were killed “defending their land and dignity” during the battle and that more than 50 Houthi fighters were killed in the fighting with dozens of others wounded. [4] An officer with pro-government forces confirmed 14 troops were killed and 23 injured. [1] Earlier a military official also said 14 troops had been killed and that fighting resulted in dead and wounded among Houthi ranks without specifying the number killed in the opposing force. [3]
Context of Yemen's Civil War
The Houthis have controlled Sanaa, much of northern Yemen and Hodeidah since their 2015 war against the internationally recognised government, which holds the south. [1] The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands and created a major humanitarian crisis. [2] The Houthis have been at war with the government since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and triggered a major humanitarian crisis in Yemen. [3] The rebels control Yemen’s capital Sanaa and much of the north, including Hodeidah on Yemen’s western Red Sea coast, while the internationally-recognised government holds much of the south. [1] The fighting between the two sides has largely been frozen since a UN-negotiated truce in 2022. [2] Front lines have remained largely frozen since a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022, though sporadic violence has continued. [4] The rebels control Yemen's capital Sanaa and much of the north, including Hodeidah on Yemen's western Red Sea coast, while the internationally-recognised government holds much of the south. [3]
Recent Threats Against Saudi Arabia
Fighting has been largely frozen under a 2022 UN-brokered truce, but on Friday the Houthis threatened Saudi airports and infrastructure, accusing Riyadh of trying to block an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation. [1] On Friday the Houthis threatened airports and vital assets belonging to Saudi Arabia, a key backer of Yemen’s Aden-based government. [3] The rebels accused the kingdom of trying to stop an Iranian plane from landing. [1] The latest fighting came after the Houthis threatened airports and key facilities in Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen’s government. [4] The Houthis accused Riyadh of having violated their airspace and of having attempted to impede the landing of an Iranian plane. [2] The media Houthi had previously reported that the plane had landed, adding that it had departed for Tehran with the Houthi delegation aboard. [2]
Houthi Ties to Iran
The rebels form part of Iran's 'axis of resistance' against Israel and the United States. [1] Saudi Arabia is a key backer of the Aden-based Yemeni government. [3] The rebel group, part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel and the United States, accused the kingdom of trying to stop an Iranian plane from landing. [3] The rebels, in war with the forces aligned with the government since 2015, control large areas of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and much of the north of the country, including Hodeidah on the Red Sea. [2]
What to watch next: The Houthis have threatened airports and vital assets belonging to Saudi Arabia after accusing the kingdom of trying to stop an Iranian plane from landing, while front lines have remained largely frozen since the 2022 UN-negotiated truce.
