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Fierce clashes broke out on Tuesday between Houthi fighters and forces aligned with Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Al-Dhalea province, a military source told Xinhua. The confrontation began after Houthi forces launched coordinated assaults on STC positions in the Battar and Tabat Othman areas northwest of Al-Dhalea, prompting a strong response with medium and heavy weapons from STC troops, the source said. The attacks were repelled after several hours of intense fighting, he added. Both sides reportedly suffered casualties, although no official figures have been released. There was no immediate comment from the Houthi movement regarding the reported clashes.
The escalation follows the announcement by the Houthis’ newly formed General Mobilization Forces in Sanaa, which declared readiness to reinforce frontline units across battle zones. Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition intervention in support of the internationally recognized government. A UN-mediated truce began in April 2022 and was renewed twice, but it later lapsed after six months, with both sides maintaining a de facto ceasefire despite sporadic clashes. The situation remains tense in multiple contested regions across Yemen.