Yemen clashes near Saudi border enter third day

By Mohamed al-Samei and Shukri Hussein

SANAA, Yemen

Scores were killed and injured on Wednesday in ongoing clashes between Houthi militiamen and pro-government forces -- backed by Saudi-led coalition warplanes -- in Yemen’s northwestern Hajjah province near the border with Saudi Arabia.

According to a statement issued by the Yemeni army’s Fifth Brigade, clashes continued for the third day in a row in Hajjah’s Harad and Midi areas.

"At least 37 Houthis and allied fighters have been killed or injured," the statement read, noting that six army personnel had also been killed in the fighting.

A medical source in Yemen’s southern Aden province, meanwhile, told Anadolu Agency that at least five pro-government fighters had been killed -- and another 17 injured -- by an early morning missile attack.

The source, who preferred anonymity due to security concerns, did not say where exactly in Aden the attack had occurred.

In a related development late Tuesday, Saudi-led coalition warplanes pounded Houthi positions in Yemen’s western Hudeida province, one day after Houthi militiamen reportedly attacked a Saudi warship.

Local residents told Anadolu Agency that coalition warplanes had carried out at least 20 airstrikes throughout the province.

Two Saudi sailors were killed on Monday when Houthi militiamen reportedly attacked a Saudi frigate on patrol in the Red Sea, according to Saudi-led coalition officials.

In 2014, the Houthis overran capital Sanaa and other parts of Yemen, forcing members of the country’s Saudi-backed government to temporarily flee to Riyadh.

The following year, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a major air campaign aimed at reversing Houthi military gains in Yemen and shoring up the pro-Saudi government.