Fighting between Houthis, Yemen forces kills 48

Fighting in southern Yemen between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Houthi fighters has killed 48 people in recent hours, military sources from both sides told AFP yesterday.

According to government military sources, 17 troops were killed, while the Houthis reported 31 of their fighters killed in the past day.

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This month, the Houthis, who already held most of Yemen’s populated areas, launched a lightning offensive to take over the country’s entire Red Sea coast, giving them control over the vital Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The group has declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, which had used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, itself closed by the Middle East war, for its oil exports.

The war, which began in 2014 with the Houthi capture of the capital Sanaa, had been largely frozen since 2022 but erupted back into life in July.

Saudi Arabia has, since 2015, led a coalition backing the internationally recognised government.