At least 14 troops aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government were killed in an attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels south of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, two military officials said on Sunday.The clashes took place in the Jabal Dubas area of Hays district and began late on Friday before continuing for several hours.An officer with pro-government forces told AFP that 14 troops were killed and 23 others injured in "fierce fighting". The officer said Houthi fighters briefly seized government positions before a counteroffensive recaptured them by dawn on Saturday."This was the deadliest Houthi attack in years," the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He also added that Iran-backed rebels launched the assault using snipers, who accounted for most of the casualties, before following up with drone and mortar attacks.A second military official also confirmed the toll, saying pro-government forces eventually repelled the Houthi offensive in Hays district after "clashes lasting for several hours". The official added that "fighting resulted in dead and wounded among (Houthi) ranks," without specifying the number of rebel casualties.The official added that "fighting resulted in dead and wounded among (Houthi) ranks," but did not specify the number of casualties suffered by the rebel group.Yemen's government and the Houthis have been at war since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, including Hodeidah, while the internationally recognised government administers large parts of the south.Frontline fighting has remained largely frozen since a UN-brokered truce in 2022. However, tensions escalated on Friday after the Houthis threatened airports and other vital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of attempting to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The latest attack is likely to heighten concerns over renewed fighting despite the years-long ceasefire largely holding.