Clashes between Yemeni government forces and Houthi fighters have intensified across several fronts west of Taiz province, with the Iran-backed group conducting what appears to be a significant military offensive. The Houthi fighters attempted to advance toward and cut the road connecting Taiz to al-Makha on Thursday, a strategic objective that would sever Taiz city from coastal access. Taking control of the port city of al-Makha would block government forces from a critical supply route and establish a Houthi presence along the Red Sea, one of the world’s most important maritime corridors for oil shipments and international commerce.
According to Yemen’s Army Media Centre, Houthi forces fired 14 ballistic missiles and deployed drones targeting populated areas in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces. Ground assaults were reported in the Maqbanah Mountains and several other locations including al-Ahtoub, al-Tuwair, al-Kadha, and Jabal Ghabari. The military center reported more than 18 Houthi fighters killed or wounded in Thursday’s fighting, though a military source cited by AFP stated that 13 government forces were killed, with most casualties occurring along the al-Makha to Taiz front and near the Red Sea coast. A field officer in al-Makha described his forces as “fighting fiercely to repel the massive Houthi offensive” and reported thwarting an attack involving two booby-trapped boats near the port.
This escalation marks a notable departure from the relative calm maintained since a 2022 truce between the warring parties. Fighting has intensified significantly in recent weeks, with reports of exchanges across nearly the entire front line. The broader conflict has roots in the Houthi seizure of Sanaa in 2014, which triggered a Saudi-led military intervention beginning the following year. Peace negotiations stalled in 2023 amid broader regional tensions. Observers note that the Houthis’ recent territorial gains and the escalating attacks—including strikes on government-affiliated Saudi oil tankers—suggest that efforts to resume diplomatic talks and establish a ceasefire may be deteriorating.
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