68 killed in clashes between Houthis, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces

Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia have intensified military operations against the Houthis, with heavy fighting reported west of Taiz and across several provinces.

The Yemeni Army said Friday that 30 Houthi fighters were killed and more than 60 wounded in 24 hours of clashes and airstrikes in the Al-Waziyah district, while both sides reported mounting casualties and civilian displacement.

A military source quoted by the Yemeni Armed Forces Media Center said government forces had fought intense clashes with Houthi fighters on several fronts in Al-Waziyah district, west of Taiz.

The source said Yemeni forces had “neutralized” 30 Houthi fighters and wounded more than 60 others during the 24-hour period.

Yemeni warplanes also targeted Houthi vehicles and gathering points in the fighting zone, according to the army.

The Yemeni military said its air force had additionally struck Houthi supply routes and deployment sites in Taiz and the Red Sea port city of Mocha.

Government forces said they had previously repelled Houthi attacks in Taiz and targeted Houthi positions and reinforcements. Turkish media reported that the Yemeni Army has expanded and intensified operations against Houthi positions in several provinces in recent days, with Taiz emerging as one of the main fronts.