Sanaa: Thirteen Yemeni soldiers have been killed during two days of intense clashes with Houthi forces in the southwestern provinces of Taiz and Lahj, as announced by Yemen's army on Saturday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Tur al-Bahah Military Axis, affiliated with the army, confirmed the fatalities in a statement but did not provide additional details. The recent clashes mark a surge in hostilities across several fronts in Yemen, including Taiz, Marib, Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, and Lahj.

This escalation in fighting is part of a broader military intensification that started in early July, representing the most significant increase in conflict since a relative calm was achieved following a truce in April 2022. The situation worsened in September when Houthi forces captured strategic locations along Yemen's Red Sea coastline.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, and several other provinces in September 2014. This prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 to support Yemen's internationally recognized government.