War Breaks Out in Oil-Rich Arab City, 80 Pro-Iran Militants Killed
At least 80 Houthi fighters were killed in fierce clashes against Yemeni government forces on the outskirts of Marib city centre. The bloodshed erupted as the Iran-backed militia attempted to intensify its offensive to capture the energy-rich city.
Quoting Arab News on Monday (21/09/2026), Brigadier General Yahya Al-Hatemi, Director of the Yemeni Army’s Military Media Department, revealed that heavy fighting has raged over the past 24 hours between government forces and Houtherek militias in the southern region of Marib, including Hareb, Mala’a, and Um Raish. Government forces, supported by a fleet of fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), successfully repelled the deadly attack.
“The Houthis suffered more than 80 casualties, the remainder fled, and nine combat vehicles were destroyed,” he stated.
The fighter jet fleet also struck Houthi positions across the front lines in Marib province, targeting fighter assembly points, military reinforcements, and various fortified defensive positions. Notably, Marib city hosts the largest concentration of internally displaced persons in Yemen, with over 2 million people seeking refuge there over the last decade due to the war. This strategic city is also home to vital oil and gas fields and major power generation facilities.
Despite thousands of civilians and fighters having been killed or wounded in previous successive attacks, the Houthis have never succeeded in controlling the city. They had previously halted their major offensive following a UN-mediated ceasefire in April 2022. However, the massive counter-attack by Yemeni government forces over the last 24 hours has forced Houthi militants to retreat from their positions outside Marib.
Meanwhile, the Houthi faction was observed holding funeral processions on Saturday for at least 50 of their fighters killed on the battlefield, including several high-ranking officers, in the capital Sana’a, Amran, Hodeidah, and other areas under their control.
In response, Al-Hatemi claimed that the casualties publicly acknowledged by the Houthis represent less than 10% of the actual battlefield deaths. He estimated that approximately 300 to 500 Houthi fighters are killed every day, accusing the militia of deliberately concealing the true figures to maintain troop morale.
“The Houthis show no concern for the number of casualties, viewing their fighters as expendable—pawns treated as worthless slaves—with their sole priority being the achievement of their objectives.”
Elsewhere, the Yemeni army in Taiz confirmed they have seized control of Mount Nouman following intense clashes with the Houthis in the surrounding mountainous area. Following military gains by government forces along Yemen’s western Red Sea coast, the Houthis launched desperate attacks against defensive positions in the Al-Madaribah Wa Al-Aarah district of Lahj province and other locations in Taiz to consolidate their remaining strength.
Responding to this escalation, the Nation’s Shield Forces from the government side stated on Sunday that they successfully repelled Houthi attacks and shot down a drone near Mount Kahboub. Capturing this mountain is crucial, as it would provide the Houthis with a strategic position overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait and pave the way towards the southern city of Aden, the internationally recognised seat of government.
Furthermore, Yemeni Army Spokesperson Colonel Majed Al-Nuzaili confirmed the effectiveness of their aerial counter-attacks.
“The army’s air force has attacked Houthi personnel and military equipment in the central Al-Bayda province,” said Al-Nuzaili.