Daijiworld Media Network - Aiden

Aden, Aug 10: Yemeni government troops successfully thwarted a major offensive launched by the Houthi rebel group in the northern part of Dhalea province on Sunday, killing three militants and halting the attempted advance, a military official confirmed to Xinhua.

The Houthis launched the attack using heavy artillery in a bid to break through government defenses in the Bab Ghalaq area. The intense firefight lasted nearly an hour before the rebel forces were forced to retreat in disarray, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Despite the aggression, government troops managed to hold their ground. In addition to the fatalities, the Houthis also reportedly lost military equipment during the clash. Five government soldiers sustained injuries in the confrontation.

The Houthi side has not yet issued any statement regarding the incident.

This skirmish highlights the fragile security situation in Yemen, where tensions continue to simmer following the breakdown of a UN-brokered ceasefire in late 2022. The failure to renew or expand the truce has led to sporadic violence across several frontlines.

The ongoing conflict, which erupted in 2014, has caused immense human suffering, with hundreds of thousands killed and millions pushed to the edge of starvation, according to United Nations estimates.