Yemeni army sources from the 17th brigade announced the downing of a Houthi drone west of Taiz province. This coincided with deaths and injuries being recorded among troops in the southern Ad Dali' Governorate who were hit with a ballistic missile fired by the insurgents.

Ad Dali' media office confirmed the attack carried out by the Iran-backed militias at al-Sadreen camp, adding that 13 soldiers were killed and over 20 injured.

The attack, according to the media office statement, came a few hours before Iran retaliated to the US killing of its top general Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. Houthis undertook the escalation at Ad Dali’ as an Iranian proxy.

Responding to the Houthi move, Southern Transitional Council forces, which control the governorate, launched a qualitative operation that left 18 Houthis dead and some 22 wounded.

STC factions were able to slow down Houthi advances on multiple fronts.

On the other hand, armed confrontations erupted with the Houthis in the country's southwestern governorate of Taiz.

"Clashes erupted with Houthi elements who were attempting to infiltrate army sites near the 40th Street, northeast of Taiz," government forces said in a brief statement.

"The clashes resulted in the killing of two Houthis and the injury of three others before their escape from the area," the statement added.

The city center of Taiz is currently under the control of the Yemeni government, while the outskirts of the city and areas in the countryside of the governorate are still witnessing armed confrontations between pro-government forces and the Houthis.