Houthi attack kills 14 Yemeni troops near Hodeidah in deadliest assault in years

At least 14 troops aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government were killed in an attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels south of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, military officials said on Sunday. The assault marked one of the deadliest Houthi attacks in recent years and raised concerns over renewed fighting despite a largely frozen frontline since 2022.

Fierce fighting in Hays district

The clashes took place in the Jabal Dubas area of Hays district, beginning late on Friday and continuing for several hours into Saturday.

According to a military officer with pro-government forces, 14 soldiers were killed and 23 others injured during the fighting. The officer said Houthi fighters briefly captured government positions before pro-government forces launched a counteroffensive and regained control by dawn on Saturday.

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"This was the deadliest Houthi attack in years," the officer said, adding that the rebels initially used snipers, who caused most of the casualties, before launching drone and mortar attacks.

A second military official confirmed the death toll and said government forces eventually repelled the assault after hours of fighting. The official added that the clashes also resulted in casualties among Houthi fighters but did not provide a figure.

Conflict remains unresolved

Yemen has been engulfed in civil war since 2015, with the Iran-backed Houthis fighting the internationally recognised government. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, including the strategic Red Sea port of Hodeidah, while the internationally recognised government administers large parts of the south.

Tensions rise despite ceasefire

Although frontline fighting has remained largely frozen since a UN-brokered truce in 2022, tensions have resurfaced in recent days.

On Friday, the Houthis threatened airports and other key infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of attempting to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. Saudi Arabia backs Yemen's internationally recognised government.

The latest attack is expected to raise fresh concerns over the durability of the ceasefire and the possibility of renewed escalation in Yemen's long-running conflict.