Aden, September 13 (Daily Kiran) : Yemen’s government forces announced on Sunday that more than 500 soldiers have died in a month-long battle against Houthi rebels in the western coastal region. This conflict has resulted in approximately 1,500 additional soldiers being injured. The fighting intensified as the Houthi group made significant advances toward the strategically important Bab al-Mandab strait.
According to a statement from the National Resistance Forces aired on Al-Jumhuriya TV, these casualties occurred between August 9 and September 10. The military also claimed that over 1,000 Houthi fighters were killed and thousands more wounded, though these figures have not been independently verified.
The conflict began on September 3 with Houthi attacks involving missiles, drones, and explosive-laden boats. The fighting quickly spread from the southern coastal area of Hodeidah province to several regions in the neighboring southwestern Taiz province.
The Houthi offensive has dramatically altered the situation along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, leading to the capture of several government-controlled areas in Hodeidah and Taiz provinces. On Thursday, the Houthis seized the strategically significant port city of Mocha and advanced southward into the Bab al-Mandab area, gaining control over Mayyun Island. This move further solidified their hold on this vital maritime route connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Following these developments, Houthi forces have pushed into the neighboring Lahij province, where the retreating government troops have regrouped. This escalation has brought the conflict closer to Aden, the internationally recognized capital of Yemen.
In another significant development, a Houthi military official reported that during their rapid military operations, they managed to free 210 members from a government-operated prison after capturing Mocha. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the government forces had confined all prisoners in a large hall before the Houthis stormed the facility and liberated them.
Tensions remain high as the conflict continues to evolve, further complicating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
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