Yemeni government troops announced on Tuesday that they have re‑established complete authority over the Hays district in the coastal province of Hodeidah, a claim reported by Al Jazeera and relayed by Middle East Eye. The statement follows a series of engagements in which the forces said they cleared the area of Houthi presence.
According to the official account, the army first secured the Al‑Barah junction, a strategic point that links several local routes. After consolidating that position, the troops moved forward toward remaining Houthi positions, prompting the rebel fighters to withdraw. The government side reported that the offensive resulted in dozens of Houthi combatants being killed or injured.
The armed forces' spokesperson, Majeed Al‑Nuzayli, posted on the social media platform X that the operation also targeted the Al‑Labnah Camp, describing the action as a destruction of the militia's capabilities and elements there. No independent verification of the casualty figures or the extent of the damage to the camp has been provided.
The claim of full control comes amid a broader pattern of shifting frontlines in Yemen's protracted conflict, where both sides frequently announce territorial gains that are difficult to confirm on the ground. The Hodeidah governorate, a key gateway for humanitarian aid, has seen repeated clashes between government and Houthi forces over the past months.
No immediate response from Houthi representatives was recorded at the time of reporting. International observers have called for unhindered access to verify the situation, but access to the contested district remains limited. The development adds another episode to the ongoing hostilities that have displaced thousands and disrupted aid deliveries across the region.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/yemeni-forces-claim-control-regained-over-hays-district-hodeidah.