Fighting between Yemen’s internationally recognized government forces and the Houthi movement has intensified around Taiz and the country’s western coast, with government forces claiming advances against Houthi positions in strategically important areas.
Yemeni military sources have reported gains around Taiz as government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, continue operations aimed at pushing the Houthis away from key positions near the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. However, the extent of the territorial gains remains disputed, with Houthi officials rejecting claims made by their opponents.
The mountainous areas around western Taiz have become a major battleground. Control of the highlands east of the Bab al-Mandab Strait is strategically important because the area provides access toward the Red Sea coast and the port city of Mocha.
Yemeni government forces have also reported capturing positions in the Haifan area south of Taiz, including the Al-Manzara, Al-Ashari and Dhiban mountains. The latest fighting follows a broader government counteroffensive against recent Houthi advances along the western coast.
The Houthis had recently made significant gains along the Red Sea coast, including advances around Mocha and Bab al-Mandab. Government forces subsequently launched a Saudi-backed operation to retake the territory.
Yemen’s government has claimed that its forces recaptured Mocha, Dhubab and positions near Bab al-Mandab. Houthi officials have rejected those claims, creating competing accounts of the battlefield situation. Independent verification of the full extent of the territorial changes has not been possible.
The fighting has also been accompanied by attacks extending beyond Yemen’s borders. Saudi authorities reported that Jazan and Najran airports near the Yemeni border were targeted, with three people sustaining minor injuries and some material damage reported.
Saudi Arabia has also reported intercepting missiles and drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas. Yemeni military officials have previously identified Houthi-held areas including Sanaa, Saada and Taiz as locations where government forces are targeting military positions.
The escalation has raised concerns about security around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s important maritime chokepoints connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The area is particularly significant for international shipping and energy transportation.
The renewed fighting marks a major escalation after years of reduced hostilities. Both sides are seeking to strengthen their positions across western Yemen, while the government aims to reverse recent Houthi advances and regain control of strategic territory.
The competing battlefield claims underline the difficulty of establishing a clear picture of developments on the ground. While government forces report continued advances, Houthi officials maintain that they retain control of areas their opponents claim to have recaptured.
