32 Yemen Soldiers, Scores of Houthis Killed in Fighting, Strikes Near Saudi Border

Unconfirmed reports of scores of Houthis killed

At least 32 Yemeni soldiers have been killed in the past few days in heavy fighting over the Yemeni town of Harad, near the Saudi border.

Fights in areas along the Yemen-Saudi border are not unheard of during the war, but when they do erupt they have tended to be bloody exchanges. Pro-Saudi forces in this case seemed determined to seize Hajjah Province, and are starting at Harad, albeit unsuccessfully.

The army took 32 killed and 100 wounded. At least 10 of those soldiers were killed by a landmine. Exact figures on the Houthis aren’t clear yet, though sources claimed 30 Houthis killed in airstrikes, and others suggested as many as 56 slain.

As with much of the fighting, it doesn’t seem like Harad would be decisive for either side, just meaning scores of additional combat deaths that don’t accomplish much.

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.