Yemen Conflict Sees 14 Government Troops Killed in Houthi Attack South of Hodeidah
Yemen's Houthi rebels killed at least 14 government troops in an attack south of the port city of Hodeidah over the weekend, in one of the deadliest clashes between the sides in years, while a cargo ship reported coming under attack in the nearby Red Sea during the Yemen conflict.
Deadly Clashes South of Hodeidah
The clashes occurred in the Jabal Dubas area of Hays district south of Hodeidah, beginning late Friday and ending at dawn Saturday after a government counterattack. [4] Houthis used snipers, which caused most of the casualties, followed by drone and mortar attacks; they briefly seized pro-government positions before being repelled. [2] Government forces reported 14-16 troops killed and 22-23 wounded; Houthi casualties were reported but not quantified. [4] An officer with pro-government forces confirmed 14 troops were killed and 23 injured in fierce fighting. [4] The officer said the Houthis briefly took control of pro-government positions in the clashes, which began late on Friday, before a counterattack to retake them concluded at dawn on Saturday. [2] This was the deadliest Houthi attack in years, according to the officer. [4] Earlier a military official also said 14 troops had been killed and pro-government forces had repelled the Houthi attack in Hays district in clashes lasting for several hours. [4] Another military official said the fighting resulted in dead and wounded among Houthi ranks but did not provide any numbers. [2] Hospitals in the area received 16 dead and 22 wounded pro-government forces. [2] An officer with the government-aligned forces called it the deadliest Houthi attack in years. [2] The officer described how the Iran-backed rebels had attacked with snipers, which accounted for most of the casualties, before launching drone and mortar salvos. [2]
Yemens presidential council chief orders government forces to maintain maximum readiness against Houthis. — Source: anadolu
Maritime Attack in the Red Sea
A separate maritime incident saw a bulk carrier attacked 30 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah by a skiff with armed assailants who opened fire, prompting return fire from the ship's security team. [1] The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the attack off Hodeida city. [1] The UKMTO said the ship reported being under attack by unknown armed assailants 30 nautical miles southwest of Hodeida. [2] A skiff approached the bulk carrier and opened fire, forcing security guards to return fire, before sailing back to a larger ship about 2 nautical miles away with its automatic identification system switched off. [1] The cargo ship and crew were reported safe. [1] The British military said authorities were investigating. [1] No group immediately claimed the attack. [2] The Houthis have threatened to begin attacking ships again. [2] A Houthi spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. [1]
Context of the Yemen Conflict
The broader Yemen conflict, ongoing since 2015, has killed hundreds of thousands and created a major humanitarian crisis; fighting has been largely frozen under a 2022 UN truce, with Houthis controlling Sanaa, much of the north and Hodeidah. [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. [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. [4] The fighting between the two sides has largely been frozen since a UN-negotiated truce in 2022. [4] The Houthis control Yemen's capital Sanaa and much of the north, including Hodeidah on Yemen's western Red Sea coast. [2] The internationally-recognised government holds much of the south. [2] This conflict has caused hundreds of thousands of victims and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis in the poorest country of the Arabian peninsula. [5]
Recent Houthi Threats
The Houthis threatened airports and vital assets belonging to Saudi Arabia on Friday. [4] 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. [2] On Friday the Houthis threatened airports and vital assets belonging to Saudi Arabia, a key backer of Yemen's Aden-based government. [2] The rebel group accused the kingdom of trying to stop an Iranian plane from landing. [4] The rebels accused Riyadh of having violated their airspace and of having attempted to prevent the landing of an Iranian plane. [5] Houthi media had previously reported that the plane had landed, adding that it had departed for Tehran carrying the Houthi delegation that was to attend the funeral of the former Supreme Guide of Iran Ali Khamenei. [5]
Government Response and Readiness
Yemen’s presidential council chief ordered government forces to maintain maximum readiness against Houthis. [3] The order follows deadly clashes in western Al Hudaydah province that left dozens dead and wounded on both sides. [3]
Yemeni government soldiers killed in Houthi rebel attack south of Hodeidah. — Source: gdelt
Prior Maritime Incidents
The rebels previously fired drones and missiles at ships that pass territory they control near the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. [1] Their attacks during the Gaza war forced shipping companies to reroute vessels around the southern tip of Africa instead of through the Suez Canal at the northern end of the Red Sea. [2] Somali pirates also have been active further away in the Gulf of Aden recently. [1] Suspected pirates attacked a vessel 76 nautical miles south of the port town of Balhaf in southeastern Yemen on July 1. [1] Four armed men on a small craft caused minor damage to the ship's bridge, according to the UKMTO. [1]
What to watch next: Authorities continue investigating the cargo ship attack off Hodeidah while the Houthis have threatened to resume targeting vessels and Saudi airports and assets.
