Three soldiers were killed and seven wounded in clashes on Friday between government forces and the Houthis in Taiz province in southwestern Yemen.
Wadah al-Dubaish, spokesperson for the Joint Forces on Yemen's western coast, said the casualties were among the ranks of the National Resistance forces. Al-Dubaish said the clashes took place on the al-Barh front west of Taiz and that the Houthis repeatedly attempted to advance from different directions in order to reach National Resistance positions.
Clashes continued for hours
According to al-Dubaish, the attack continued with artillery and supporting fire, as well as attempts to infiltrate military positions. National Resistance units halted the advance by launching counterattacks and ambush operations.
The spokesperson estimated that between 45 and 55 Houthi fighters were killed, wounded or missing in the clashes. The estimate could not be independently verified, and the Houthis did not immediately comment on the claim.
Some Houthi vehicles and fire-support systems were destroyed or rendered inoperable during the clashes. Unmanned aerial vehicles were used for surveillance and target identification, while the attacking forces withdrew to positions farther back.
Conflicting casualty figures issued over Mokha Port attack
Yemen's army said on Saturday that a security officer serving at Mokha Port was killed, two sailors were missing and eight civilians were wounded. The army said six ballistic missiles were used in Friday evening's attack and that the Houthis carried it out.
The Houthis said on Friday evening that they had targeted soldiers and weapons belonging to Saudi forces and their allies, as well as military boats, in the Mokha area. The Houthi statement did not mention civilian casualties.
Accounts also differed over the number of missiles used in the attack on Mokha Port. An initial briefing said four missiles had been used, while later statements put the number at six; one statement said four civilians had been killed.
Clashes intensify again in Yemen
In the war between Yemen's government forces and the Houthis, which began about 12 years ago, the country had experienced a relatively calm period since April 2022. The Houthis have controlled the capital, Sanaa, as well as some cities and provinces since September 2014.
Clashes have intensified again in various areas in recent weeks, including the provinces of Marib, al-Jawf, al-Dhale and Taiz. Yemen is facing one of the world's most severe humanitarian and economic crises.
A Saudi-led coalition supports Yemen's internationally recognized government, while Iran is accused of supporting the Houthis. The Houthis also announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July.
