Eight Houthis killed in clashes with Yemeni forces in Taiz

Yemeni government forces repelled a Houthi attack in the Al-Safa area of the Kalabah front northeast of Taiz city on Tuesday, killing eight fighters and wounding 15 others, according to a military source. The Yemeni Armed Forces’ media center said in a statement on X that the assault involved heavy clashes with various types of weapons. The statement did not specify whether government forces suffered casualties or provide details on the condition of the wounded fighters.

Fragile lull

The Houthis did not immediately comment on the military’s account of the clashes. Yemen has endured nearly 12 years of war between government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and the Iran-backed Houthis, who seized Sanaa and large parts of the country in 2014. A relative lull has held since April 2022, though renewed fighting has raised fears of a return to full-scale conflict in the impoverished nation.

Red Sea tensions

Since late 2023, the Houthis have become increasingly involved in regional hostilities, launching attacks on Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea following the start of the Gaza genocide. The militant group has targeted vessels it claims are linked to Israel, disrupting global trade routes through the strategic waterway.