🔸Military and medical sources in Yemen told Agence France-Presse on Friday, 13 Shahrivar, that in clashes between Iran-backed Houthis and the forces of the Yemeni government, at least 81 personnel from both sides have been killed since Thursday.

🔸The clashes began on Thursday after Houthi forces launched a ground attack with support from missile and drone strikes near Red Sea coastal areas and around Taiz.

🔸Two military officials from the government forces said 24 government troops were killed on the Red Sea coastal front, and another 15 were killed in the Taiz area. Medical sources in areas under Houthi control also reported the deaths of at least 42 Houthi forces.

🔸Yemeni government military sources told AFP that the Houthis are trying to cut off the connection to the important port city of Mocha, which has been targeted repeatedly in recent weeks, from other areas under government control and to advance toward areas overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait.

🔸The Houthis in Yemen, who control large parts of the country, announced a “maritime blockade” against Saudi Arabia this past July amid the Iran–U.S. war.