More Than 300 Killed in New Escalation Between Yemen Government and Houthis

More than 300 people have been killed since Thursday in one of the most intense outbreaks of violence in western Yemen in recent years. The fighting pits forces loyal to the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government against Houthi rebels allied with Iran.

The clashes have focused on the western provinces of Taiz and Hodeida, an area crucial to access to the Red Sea. At least 117 combatants died during the first four days of fighting. Military sources said another 141 combatants were killed between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, including 84 government fighters and 57 Houthi insurgents.

The Houthi offensive has a clear strategic objective: cutting access to the port city of Mocha and advancing toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait, one of the maritime routes linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The rebels currently control Hodeida port but do not hold territory with direct access to the strait.

The passage has taken on greater regional importance because it became more relevant for Saudi oil shipments after Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz at the start of its war with the United States. A Tehran-backed force moving toward Bab el-Mandeb therefore adds a regional dimension to the renewed fighting in Yemen.

Both sides reported gains on the ground. A government officer said forces retook several key positions in Taiz in a nighttime counterattack, while another military source said government troops established positions north of Hays, less than 30 kilometers from the Red Sea coast. A government officer also said the Houthis advanced west of Taiz, south of Hays, toward Bab el-Mandeb. Fighting eased during the early hours of Sunday, but the contest over the western strip remained capable of expanding.