Clashes erupt between Houthis, pro-government forces in South Yemen

Intense fighting broke out on Saturday between Houthi militants and pro-government forces in Yemen’s southern province of Lahj, according to a military official who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The clashes erupted when Houthi forces launched an offensive to seize strategic mountainous positions along the administrative borders of Lahj and neighboring Taiz provinces.

The hours-long battle saw the use of heavy weaponry, the official said.

In the fierce confrontations, two soldiers were killed and five others wounded, but the Houthi fighters were unable to capture new territory.

However, the militants managed to establish military positions near the contact lines between the two sides, signaling a possible escalation in the area.

The renewed hostilities have caused concern among local residents, with media outlets reporting that many families in the affected areas have fled their homes.

The intensifying violence has raised fears of worsening humanitarian conditions in a region already plagued by conflict.

This latest bout of violence follows a series of smaller skirmishes in the same area last week, which also resulted in casualties.

Yemen has been gripped by civil war since late 2014 when Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, seized control of several northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognised government to flee.

Since then, the conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Despite numerous attempts at peace talks, the fighting shows no signs of abating, with both sides continuing to engage in violent confrontations across the country.

The recent clashes in Lahj mark another chapter in the ongoing conflict, underscoring the fragile nature of Yemen’s security situation.