At Least 80 Houthis Killed in NW Yemen Fighting, Airstrikes

Strikes targeted Houthi vehicles, gatherings

Over the weekend, Saudi-led forces carried out a series of operations in northwestern Yemen’s Hajjah District, killing at least 80 Houthis and wounding scores of others.

With growing fighting across the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, forces are increasingly keen on chasing the Houthis out of the border areas. In recent weeks this has focused on the Hajjah area.

So far fighting on the ground has had limited impact, something true across much of the Yemen War. This has the Saudis relying on airstrikes, which if nothing else greatly increase casualties.

If other areas of focus in Yemen are any indicator, this will lead to a cycle of reinforcements and high death tolls with little territory changing hands, and both sides trying to present themselves as doing well.

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.