Yemen government and Houthi officials said on the 17th that heavy fighting has
raged over the past 24 hours near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait for high ground
overlooking the strategic shipping lane. An anonymous government officer said
fighting since the 16th has concentrated in the Kahbub highlands and surrounding
heights in southern Lahij province, with Houthis launching a new offensive
against government defenses; the officer said fighting began overnight and has
not stopped. At least 19 government soldiers have been killed and 15 wounded;
the wounded were taken to a military hospital in Aden. A Houthi official,
speaking anonymously, said the front remains deadlocked, several commanding
heights have changed hands multiple times and at least 25 Houthi fighters have
been killed with others wounded.
