Pakistan, Sept. 4 -- At least 81 people have died in fresh clashes between Yemen's Houthis and government forces. The fighting is intensifying near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The strategic waterway links the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean.

The violence began on Thursday after Houthi forces launched a ground offensive. They also used rockets and drones against positions near Yemen's coast. Military and medical sources provided the casualty figures on Friday.

Government forces reported 39 deaths among their ranks during the fighting. A military official said 24 soldiers died along the coast. Another official reported 15 deaths in the Taiz area. Medical sources said 42 Houthi fighters also died.

The Houthi offensive seeks to isolate the gov...