Military Claims Nearly 80 Killed in Fighting in Yemen’s Maarib

Reports from Yemeni military officials are that fighting has been intensifying in Maarib in the past few days, and that airstrikes are also intensifying. Over the past 48 hours, the military claims nearly 80 killed in fighting.

The official claim on the death toll was 60 Houthis killed, mostly in airstrikes, and 18 pro-Saudi troops. There has been no confirmation of the death toll split on the Houthi side.

That’s not uncommon, as both sides tend to emphasize deaths on the other side, and downplay their own losses. The shorthand of all of it though is more fighting but decisive wins for neither side.

Underscoring the escalation, pro-Saudi officials reported 65 killed in the previous week, similarly claiming the majority slain were Houthis. The Houthis reported on substantial numbers of airstrikes, but not death tolls.