Yemeni Forces Kill 14 Houthis in Maarib Ambush

Fighting took place south of Maarib

Fighting in Yemen’s Maarib mostly involves airstrikes. Monday saw a rare exchange on the ground, south of Maarib City, where Saudi-backed troops ambushed the Houthis.

The ambush started a fight resulting in 14 Houthis being killed. There is no word on casualties from the other side. The Yemeni forces reported tribal backing.

This is a much lower death toll than seen in Saudi airstrikes, and offers a rare sign that the pro-Saudi forces remain willing to consider ground combat operations instead of just an air war.

The Houthis made no mention of ground combat in Maarib, but did report 28 air raids within Maarib Province. There was no word of any territory changing hands.

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.