140 Killed as Saudis Fuel New Round of South Yemen Clashes

Airstrikes Backed Remnants of Hadi Forces

At least 140 people were killed in the past 24 hours, according to the reports of aid workers on the ground in southern Yemen, as Saudi warplanes fueled a new round of fighting between the Shi’ite Houthis and the remnants of forces loyal to former President Hadi.

Hadi loyalists had been all but defeated last week, and fighting seemed to be dying down, but Saudi planes began air-dropping weapons to them, and restarted major fighting in Aden and elsewhere.

53 of the 140 people confirmed killed were in Aden, where the Houthis attempted to retake a port seized over the weekend by Hadi’s forces. Fighting was also reported all along the southern coast.

The Hadi fighters are not only receiving arms from the Saudis, but also air support in the fighting, as airstrikes continue to point sites across Yemen in anticipation of an invasion.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.