Fresh Clashes in Yemen Leave 97 Combatants Dead: Military Sources

At least 97 combatants have been killed in renewed fighting between Yemen's government forces and Houthi rebels in the country's southwest, military sources from both sides told AFP on Tuesday.

The death toll includes at least 63 Houthi fighters and 34 pro-government combatants, with most fatalities reported near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategically important southern gateway to the Red Sea.

The clashes began with airstrikes late Monday and mark the fiercest fighting since the Iran-aligned Houthis captured large swathes of territory from the Saudi-backed government in a rapid offensive last month.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had repelled an attempt by Saudi-backed forces to advance from the southern direction of Bab al-Mandab. In a post on X, he reported a significant number of casualties, including dead and wounded.

According to Houthi military sources, Saudi Arabia carried out dozens of airstrikes, targeting Mayyun Island in the strait, as well as Dhubab and Mocha along the Red Sea coast.

Meanwhile, government military sources reported intense fighting in the Bab al-Mandab area and claimed that their forces had made progress on the ground.

Earlier this month, Yemen's government launched a counter-offensive backed by Saudi air power to recapture territories seized by the Houthis. However, the campaign has struggled to achieve its objectives, while the Houthis have intensified deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia. The attacks reportedly forced the closure of the Saudi capital's airport for two weeks and disrupted daily life.

Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition that intervened in Yemen's conflict in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government. The prolonged war has devastated the country and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.