Yemen official: Dozens of Houthis killed or wounded by shells, strikes

A Yemeni government official said Wednesday that dozens of Houthi fighters were killed or wounded in artillery shelling and drone strikes by government forces targeting Houthi positions, gatherings and reinforcements on several fronts.

Fayyad al-Numan, Yemen’s deputy minister of information, told dpa that government forces carried out “intensive artillery and drone strikes” on Houthi positions on several battlefronts.

He said the strikes targeted Houthi reinforcements and positions near Al-Fakher market, west of Qatabah district in Dhale province, killing and wounding a number of fighters.

Al-Numan added that drones operated by the Taiz military command also targeted various military equipment deployed in Houthi defensive lines in the province.

In Marib and Al-Jawf provinces, he said government artillery and drones launched extensive attacks along the front lines with the Houthis, killing dozens of fighters.

He also said government forces carried out artillery attacks on Houthi gatherings and military reinforcements on the western coast, resulting in dozens killed or wounded.

Meanwhile, al-Numan said the Houthis continued to target the port of Mocha in Taiz province with ballistic missiles and drones, describing the attacks as an attempt to disrupt economic activity at the strategically important civilian port.

The Houthis have not immediately commented on the government official’s claims regarding the military operations or casualties.