Aden, September 7 (Daily Kiran) : Fierce clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels in Yemen’s western provinces of Taiz and Hodeidah have resulted in at least 117 deaths over the past four days, medical officials reported.
A senior medical officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, informed the Xinhua news agency that 54 government soldiers have died since the fighting erupted on Thursday, with many others injured.
Meanwhile, two medical sources from Houthi-controlled hospitals in Hodeidah reported that 63 Houthi fighters have also lost their lives during the same period, bringing the total death toll to 117 for both sides.
On Friday, Yemeni government fighter jets conducted airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Hodeidah and Taiz. These attacks aimed to support ground troops countering a significant Houthi offensive near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The official noted that heavy fighting continued across multiple fronts in both provinces. In the last 24 hours, Houthi fighters have made rapid advances in several areas.
The airstrikes targeted Houthi positions and activities in regions where ground battles were ongoing. However, no immediate information was available regarding casualties or damage from these airstrikes.
A government military official, also speaking anonymously, stated that government forces had regained control of several key sites in western Taiz during a swift counter-offensive that took place overnight. These areas had recently fallen into Houthi hands.
This latest surge in violence is viewed as one of the largest ground battles in western Yemen in recent years, raising concerns that the country may be slipping back into widespread conflict after a period of relative calm on multiple fronts.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control of the capital, Sana’a, and large parts of northern Yemen. The following year, a Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
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