World News
Houthi fighters clash with Yemeni government forces in southwestern offensive
Heavy fighting erupted across fronts west of Taiz as Houthi forces moved to cut a strategic supply corridor to the Red Sea port of al-Makha.
The short version
- Houthi fighters launched an offensive in southwestern Yemen aiming to sever the road connecting Taiz to the Red Sea port city of al-Makha.
- Casualties were reported on both sides, with government military sources reporting at least 13 government soldiers killed and claiming over 18 Houthi deaths.
- Yemeni government officials reported regaining some briefly lost positions, though fighting remains intense along historically frozen front lines.
- It remains uncertain whether government forces can sustain control and prevent the collapse of the informal truce that has largely held since 2022.
Key facts
- Houthi forces launched an offensive west of Taiz province attempting to sever the main supply road connecting the city to the port of al-Makha.[Al Jazeera]
- A military source reported that 13 Yemeni government soldiers were killed during the clashes.[Al Jazeera]
- Yemen's Army Media Centre stated that more than 18 Houthi fighters were killed, with others wounded or captured.[Al Jazeera]
- The Army Media Centre reported that Houthi forces launched 14 ballistic missiles and multiple drones toward populated districts in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces.[Al Jazeera]
- A field officer reported that Yemeni forces intercepted an attack involving two explosive-laden boats near the port of al-Makha.[Al Jazeera]
- Yemeni government officials reported that their forces recaptured some territorial positions that had temporarily fallen under Houthi control.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- Total casualty figures remain unverified independently beyond separate claims from Yemeni army and military sources.[Al Jazeera]
- Whether Yemeni government forces can permanently maintain control over the contested transport routes and fronts west of Taiz remains unclear as clashes continue.[Al Jazeera]