Yemen: 14 soldiers killed in Houthi attack near Hodeidah

SANA’A/LONDON (Terror Monitor) — The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported an attack on a cargo vessel near Yemen’s Hodeidah port, while at least 14 pro-government soldiers were killed in separate clashes with Houthi forces in the same region.

According to UKMTO, a merchant vessel sent a distress call after coming under attack 30 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah. The agency said the incident is under investigation and advised vessels in the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.

In a separate development, a Yemeni government military official told AFP that at least 14 pro-government troops were killed during heavy fighting with Houthi fighters in the Hays district, south of Hodeidah.

The official said government-backed forces repelled a Houthi assault after “hours of fighting.” He added that several Houthi fighters were also killed or wounded, though no exact figures were provided.

The clashes come a day after the Iran-aligned Houthi group threatened Saudi interests, accusing Riyadh of attempting to block an Iranian aircraft from landing in Yemen. The Yemeni government, in turn, accused Iran of violating its airspace.

The Houthis control Yemen’s capital Sana’a and much of the country’s north, while the internationally recognized government maintains positions in parts of the south and west amid an ongoing conflict that has lasted for years.