Houthi fighters targeted populated districts along Yemen’s western coast in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces with 14 ballistic missiles and drone attacks, the Yemeni Armed Forces Media Centre said on Thursday.

Air defences intercepted several drones in the Taiz front and others over districts along the western coast, the centre quoted a military source as saying.

The source praised the “high combat readiness” of Yemeni armed forces, saying morale remained high and military units across different sectors maintained a high level of vigilance and preparedness.

The ballistic missiles did not hit positions of forces deployed along the western coast, the source said.

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It added that Yemeni forces suppressed sources of hostile fire and threats in the Al-Kadaha sector of the Al-Barh front in western Taiz province, amid reciprocal ground clashes in the area.

Yemen has witnessed a relative lull since April 2022 in a war that began nearly 12 years ago between government forces and the Houthis, who have controlled the capital Sanaa and other cities and provinces since September 2014.

Fighting has resumed in several provinces in recent weeks, including Marib, Al-Jawf, Al-Dhalea and Taiz, as the country continues to face one of the world’s worst humanitarian and economic crises.

A Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government supports government forces, while Iran is accused of backing the Houthis. The Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in July.