Five soldiers were killed in clashes between Yemeni government forces and Houthi militias in the southwest of the country, which also resulted in the deaths of at least 13 Houthis, according to two military officials on Thursday.
Colonel Mohammed al-Naqeeb, the spokesperson for the Southern Forces, affiliated with the internationally recognized government, stated that the clashes occurred on Wednesday following an attack launched by the Houthis on the Sharija Front. The front separates the province of Lahj, parts of which are controlled by the government, from areas under Houthi control in Taiz province.
He confirmed that “the forces succeeded in repelling” the attack, noting the deaths of 5 soldiers and injuries to others.
Conversely, a military source in the Houthi militias in Taiz stated that the attack resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including a field commander.
The conflict in Yemen erupted in 2014 with the Houthi control of vast areas in the north of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.
The following year, Saudi Arabia intervened at the head of a military coalition, the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy,” in support of the internationally recognized government.
The intensity of the fighting in Yemen has significantly diminished since the announcement of a UN-brokered ceasefire in April 2022, although it ended after 6 months.
