Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels killed 16 troops in an attack south of the port city of Hodeidah, two military officials aligned with the country’s internationally-recognised government told AFP yesterday.

An officer with pro-government forces in the Jabal Dubas in Hays district, where the clashes took place, confirmed 16 troops were killed and 22 injured in “fierce fighting”.

The officer said the Houthis briefly took control of pro-government positions in the clashes, which began late on Friday, before a counterattack to retake them concluded at dawn on Saturday.

“This was the deadliest Houthi attack in years,” the officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

He described how the Iran-backed rebels had attacked with snipers, which accounted for most of the casualties.