Yemeni government forces expand operations against Houthis in Taiz
Yemeni government forces reported multiple air and ground operations in southwestern Taiz province over 24 hours, including airstrikes on Houthi positions. About 130,000 people have been displaced since fighting resumed in July, while the Houthis have recently seized Mocha and expanded control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The head of the Presidential Leadership Council called on citizens to mobilize, and Saudi Arabia has sought support from allies including Pakistan and Turkiye.
Government forces said they struck Houthi sites in five areas of Taiz and engaged in ground clashes over the past day. They reported casualties among Houthi fighters and commanders, damage to vehicles, and blocked infiltration attempts. Independent verification of the battlefield reports was not available.
Fighting resumed in July after calm following a 2022 UN ceasefire. Since then, about 130,000 people have fled. Houthis recently took Mocha and widened control around Bab al-Mandeb. Rashad al-Alimi urged citizens to join the fight, while Saudi Arabia has sought backing from Pakistan and Turkiye.
The intensified fighting could deepen hardship for civilians in Taiz and surrounding areas, especially the roughly 130,000 already displaced since July. Families may face reduced access to food, healthcare, and safe routes, while renewed mobilization could strain communities. Houthi gains near Bab al-Mandeb may affect maritime traffic and prices, and outside support for Saudi Arabia could prolong regional tensions, though actual outcomes remain uncertain.