Yemen clashes between Houthis and government forces leave more than 140 dead

More than 140 people were killed in fighting between Yemen’s pro-government forces and the Houthis in the country’s southwest, according to sources from both sides who spoke to Agence France-Presse.

Two military officials with forces backed by Saudi Arabia said 84 soldiers were killed, mainly in rocket attacks. Four Houthi sources reported that 57 rebels died during the same period, from Saturday midday to Sunday morning.

The fighting follows Yemen’s return to war in July. The article describes the country as the latest to be pulled into a regional conflict triggered by an American-Israeli offensive against Iran at the end of February.

Strikes attributed to Riyadh later targeted Sanaa airport, which is controlled by the Houthis. Iran had sent a plane carrying a rebel delegation to the airport without seeking authorization from Saudi Arabia, which controls Yemeni airspace. The Houthis then announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and began targeting Saudi ships and infrastructure, including a refinery.