At least 18 Houthi fighters have been killed in Yemen in clashes between pro-government forces and rebels in the country’s southwest, two military officials told France Presse.
The violence, which erupted on Wednesday, was triggered by a Huthi attack near the front line separating the Southern Transitional Council (TCS)-controlled Lahj province from Huthi-controlled areas. in Taez province, TCS spokesman Mohammed al-Naqib told Agence France Presse (AFP).
Pro-government forces “successfully repelled the attack, but five soldiers were martyred and others were injured,” he added.
A military source from the Iranian-backed rebel group told AFP that 13 fighters, including a commander, had died in the fighting.
This attack occurs at a time of relative calm in Yemen since the truce agreement negotiated in April 2022 under the auspices of the United Nations.
However, the situation continues to be very precarious, punctuated by sporadic acts of violence.
The government recognized by the international community condemned a “perfidious attack”, referring to the latest clashes.
In a statement published on social media, the Minister of Information, Moammar al-Eryani, reported the “heavy losses inflicted” on the Houthi “militiamen” during a counterattack, without giving an exact number.
In April, a surprise attack by the Huthis killed eleven pro-government soldiers.
In 2014, rebels took control of a large part of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, triggering an all-out offensive by a Saudi-led military coalition in support of the government.
Nine years of war caused tens of thousands of deaths and affected the country on the Arabian Peninsula in a serious humanitarian crisis.
In December last year, UN envoy Hans Grundberg announced progress towards a roadmap for lasting peace, with the belligerents committing to respect a new ceasefire.
But repeated Houthi attacks in recent months on merchant marine ships off the coast of Yemen, in solidarity with Palestinians subjected to Israeli bombings in Gaza against the Islamist group Hamas, have compromised peace efforts.
