Yemeni government forces capture senior Houthi commander

Yemeni government forces have captured a senior Houthi commander during fighting in the south-western province of Taiz, military sources said. Abu Ali al-Ajani, a Houthi commander in the region, was detained during heavy fighting by troops loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government, the sources said on Tuesday. Al-Ajani was captured along with nine other people, while a vehicle used by the group was also seized. The Iran-backed Houthis have not commented on the reports. Al-Ajani is a regional commander but is not part of the Houthis' national leadership. Heavy fighting between the Houthis and government forces has been under way in the area since Thursday, with clashes also continuing in other parts of the country. The Houthis have been fighting Yemen's Saudi-backed government for more than a decade. An unofficial ceasefire had largely held since 2022, but the conflict has flared up again in connection with the Iran war, with fighting reported in several areas, including along Yemen's western Red Sea coast.