14 Houthis killed in clashes in NW Yemen: Army

By Ali Aweida

MAARIB, Yemen (AA) - At least 14 Houthi militiamen were killed Tuesday in clashes with army troops in Yemen’s northwestern Hajjah province, according to army sources.

In a statement, the army said Houthi fighters had tried to recover the body of a Houthi field commander, Ali Zahra.

Zahra had been killed one day earlier while fighting army troops in Hajjah’s coastal city of Midi.

According to the army statement, the Houthis’ bid to recover the slain commander’s body had led to the renewal of clashes, which eventually ended with a Houthi withdrawal from the area.

Tuesday’s clashes left at least 14 Houthi fighters dead and an unspecified number of others injured, according to the same statement.

Anadolu Agency was unable to independently verify the army’s assertions.

For the last two years, Yemen’s coastal city of Midi has seen frequent clashes between pro-government forces and the Houthis and their allies.