Fighting on Sunday raged in the area just south of Maarib, with pro-Saudi forces reporting that 18 of their soldiers were killed in fighting against the Houthis. No territory appears to have changed hands.
No figures were offered for the Houthi side, though the pro-Saudi side did claim “many Houthis killed in the battle by airstrikes.” The Houthis reported 16 airstrikes hit the area.
Heavy airstrikes killing scores of Houthis are a near daily occurrence in Maarib. This has become the last ditch strategy to keep the city from falling, but its accomplished little beyond the death toll.
First attacking in February, the Houthis have control of nearly the whole Maarib Province, but so far have not taken the city. The city is effectively surrounded, but no proper invasion has begun.
What exactly makes those unfortunate casualties “Yemeni soldiers”?