Over 1,500 fighters killed in month-long Yemen clashes: Pro-government force

More than 1,500 fighters from both sides were killed in month-long clashes between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi group along the country’s western coast, according to local media on Sunday.

Aljoumhouriya TV, citing a statement by the government-aligned National Resistance, said the fighting from Aug. 9 to Sept. 10 left more than 500 of its forces dead and around 1,500 wounded.

It claimed that more than 1,000 Houthi fighters were also killed and thousands more wounded during the same period. The casualty figures could not be independently verified.

According to the statement, the fighting began with Houthi missile strikes and attacks involving drones and explosive-laden boats before intensifying along fronts stretching from Hays to al-Kadha, Maqbanah and al-Barh.

The National Resistance said its Republican Guard and Tihama brigades were involved in the fighting.

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It alleged that personnel and military experts from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional allies provided direct support for the Houthi offensive. There was no immediate comment from Tehran or the Houthis on the allegation.

The pro-government force said its leadership later decided to reposition troops along new defensive lines to preserve its forces and prevent them from being encircled.

It also said Saudi Arabia provided support during the fighting, alongside the pro-government Giants Brigades, Nation’s Shield forces and tribal volunteers.

The National Resistance said it would continue fighting the Houthis as part of Yemen’s armed forces, saying that the loss of one battle did not mean the end of the confrontation.

Yemen’s fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with government-aligned forces and the Houthis reporting clashes across several fronts, including Taiz and the western coast.

The Houthis have controlled the capital Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen since 2014, while internationally recognized government forces and allied groups control much of the south and east.

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