Kathmandu— Yemeni government forces say they successfully repelled a Houthi attack along the al-Mafalis front south of Haifan in the southeastern part of Taiz province, marking a significant escalation in ongoing military conflict between the two sides. The clash occurred as the Yemeni government announced it was actively targeting Houthi positions with artillery and drones across multiple governorates, signaling a shift away from a period of relative de-escalation that had been in place since April 2022. Officials claim the Houthis suffered heavy losses during the attempted advance, while government air defenses reportedly engaged reconnaissance drones over al-Makha.

Recent Military Actions

An official from the Tor al-Bahah military axis stated that the army’s 4th Infantry Hashd Brigade repelled the Houthi attack on positions along the al-Mafalis front, asserting that “the terrorist Houthi militias suffered heavy losses.” The official added that a joint military and security campaign in Tor al-Bahah aims to repel further attacks by the Houthi group. Waddah al-Dubeish, a spokesman for government forces, reported that their air defenses had engaged reconnaissance drones belonging to the Houthis over al-Makha in southwestern Yemen.

Government Offensive and Rhetoric

On Wednesday, the Yemeni government initiated attacks on Houthi positions using artillery shelling and drones in several governorates. State television reported that these strikes resulted in casualties among Houthi fighters near al-Fakhir market in northern al-Dhalea Governorate. Yemen’s deputy minister of information, Fayyad al-Numan, confirmed to German news agency dpa that government forces carried out “intensive shelling with heavy artillery and drones on positions belonging to Houthi militias on several fronts.”

Call for Sustainable Peace

Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, declared a firm stance against further Houthi aggression, stating, “From now on, there will be no action undertaken by the Houthi militias without a comprehensive response or deterrence.” Al-Alimi also indicated that the government does not seek a temporary truce but instead supports a lasting peace founded on state control of weapons and sovereignty. He concluded with an appeal for the Houthis to disarm and participate in building a unified homeland.

Background: Recent De-escalation

Yemen had experienced a period of relative de-escalation in the conflict between government forces and the Houthi group since April 2022, but intermittent clashes resumed in early July. These renewed confrontations have already resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

The situation remains volatile as both sides continue military operations, with no immediate indication of a return to negotiations or a comprehensive ceasefire.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.