Heavy Fighting in Yemen Kills Over 60 as Houthis Push Toward Red Sea Coast

More than 60 people, including civilians, were killed on Saturday during clashes between Saudi Arabia backed government forces and pro Iran Houthi rebels in southwestern Yemen. Medical and military sources reported that 26 government troops and 31 Houthi fighters died during several hours of fighting. Additionally, a Houthi missile strike on a road in the city of Taiz killed between four and six civilians and wounded several others. These deaths follow a particularly bloody Friday where an AFP tally recorded 129 fatalities.

The escalation is part of a major Houthi offensive in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah. The rebels are attempting to capture strategic hills and advance toward the port city of al Makha and the Bab al Mandeb Strait. This strait is a critical maritime chokepoint for global trade and Saudi oil exports, especially following the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz. While Houthi forces have captured a strategic military base on a mountain in western Taiz, government forces claim to have recaptured the al Khazan and al Makahna hills.

In response to the offensive, the internationally recognised government has launched its own air attacks. Government warplanes carried out at least 15 strikes on Friday against Houthi positions and vehicles. This marks a significant increase in the government's use of its own air power, which was previously largely provided by the Saudi led coalition. The current violence follows the collapse of a 2022 ceasefire in July, which unravelled after an Iranian plane attempted to land in Houthi controlled Sanaa.

The fighting has triggered a humanitarian crisis. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that nearly 1,800 families were forced to flee their homes in less than 48 hours. Aid organisations warn that emergency stocks are depleted and that many displaced families lack food and shelter.