Houthi Rebels Dismiss Yemen Government’s Coastal City Claims

Yemen’s Houthi rebels say government reports of capturing Red Sea coastal cities are fabricated, insisting their own forces are advancing instead.

Houthi Rebels Reject Government’s Battlefield Reports

Yemen’s Houthi rebels, known as Ansar Allah and in control of the north, have dismissed recent government claims as fake. The group says reports of captured coastal cities are fabricated. Officials claim these stories aim to create a false sense of victory.

A military source speaking for the Houthi rebels told Yemen’s Saba news agency:

“The armed forces of Yemen claim that fabricated reports, spread by channels that support the aggression, show their failure and an attempt to feed their audience an illusion of victories.”

Houthi Rebels Claim Gains in Taiz Province

The same source said forces aligned with the Houthi rebels keep advancing successfully. He added they are capturing new areas in Taiz province. This region lies in southwestern Yemen and stretches toward the Red Sea coast.

Government Forces Report Capturing Key Cities

Earlier, a spokesperson for Yemen’s internationally recognized government gave a different account. He said pro government troops had captured the cities of Zubab and Mokha. Both sit on the Red Sea near the Bab el Mandeb strait. The spokesperson also said forces had launched an offensive toward Sanaa.

Fighting Resumes After Four Year Lull

Clashes in Yemen flared up again in mid July. This followed four years of relative calm between the warring sides. Fighting resumed after government air raids struck Sanaa’s airport. The strikes hit as an Iranian plane carrying senior Houthi officials was landing.