Sanaa, July 5 (SANA)FourteenYemeni soldierswere killed in aHouthi attackon positions held by the internationally recognized government forces in the Hays district of Hodeidah province, a military official said.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted the official as saying government forces repelled the assault after several hours of fighting before dawn on Saturday, forcing the attackers to withdraw.

The official said Houthi fighters also suffered casualties during the clashes but did not provide figures, adding that the fighting had ended and calm had returned to the area.

The attack comes amid continuing tensions inYemendespite aUnited Nations-brokered trucereached in 2022 that significantly reduced large-scale fighting.

On Saturday, Maj. Gen.Turki al-Maliki,spokesman for the coalition supporting the Yemeni legal government, said recent statements by the Houthi militia threatening Saudi Arabia were an attempt to divert attention from the group’s violations against the Yemeni people. He said the coalition would respond firmly to any attack targeting the kingdom.

The Houthis said on Friday they would target Saudi airports and other facilities, accusing Riyadh of violating Yemeni airspace.