Daijiworld Media Network - Aden
Aden, Jul 5: At least 14 Yemeni government soldiers were killed and several others injured after Houthi fighters launched an attack on military positions in Hodeidah province, according to military and medical officials.
The assault took place on Saturday when Houthi forces targeted two barracks of the 2nd Zaraniq Brigade on the Hays frontline in southern Hodeidah, triggering hours of intense fighting.
A military official said the Houthis briefly captured the military positions following the initial assault. However, government troops later regrouped, regained control of the barracks and forced the attackers to retreat after fierce clashes.
A medical official at a local hospital confirmed that the death toll had risen to 14 after additional bodies of government soldiers were brought from the battlefield. Several injured personnel remain hospitalised, with some reported to be in critical condition.
The latest violence comes amid increased military and tribal mobilisation by the Houthi movement in areas under its control. In recent days, the group has organised tribal gatherings, armed rallies and public demonstrations while renewing calls to end what it describes as the Saudi-led blockade of Yemen.
The attack follows another major security incident last month, when a powerful explosion struck a military camp belonging to the pro-government Giants Brigades in the southern port city of Aden, killing 12 soldiers and injuring several others.
According to security officials, the blast occurred at the brigade's camp in the Al-Mimdarah area and was heard across much of the city.
Yemen has remained embroiled in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthi movement seized control of the capital, Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in support of the internationally recognised government the following year.
Although a United Nations-brokered truce, first agreed in April 2022 and later extended twice, expired after six months, both sides have largely observed an informal ceasefire since then. However, sporadic clashes continue to occur in several contested regions, underscoring the fragility of the security situation.