At least 15 Yemeni government soldiers were killed in clashes with Houthi rebels in the western Hodeidah governorate, a Yemeni official said on Saturday. Walid al-Qudaimi, a minister of state aligned with the internationally recognized government, reported the deaths in the Jabal Dabbas area.

In a post on X, al-Qudaimi stated the troops died “defending their land and dignity,” claiming over 50 Houthi fighters were killed and dozens wounded. The Houthis did not immediately comment.

An officer with pro-government forces told AFP that 23 soldiers were wounded in “fierce fighting.” He said Houthis briefly seized positions after a late Friday attack, but government forces retook them by Saturday dawn. The officer described it as “the deadliest Houthi attack in years,” noting snipers caused most casualties.

The Houthis have been fighting Yemen’s government since 2015, controlling Sanaa and much of the north, including Hodeidah port. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 largely froze front lines, but sporadic violence continues. The recent clashes follow Houthi threats against Saudi airports.

Source: www.aljazeera.com