New Delhi: Yemen’s Taiz province has witnessed some of its fiercest fighting in years after Houthi forces launched simultaneous attacks across several fronts, including a new battlefront in Samea district. Forces aligned with the internationally recognized government said they repelled the assaults while expanding ground and air operations against Houthi positions and reinforcements.
The clashes have spread from Bani Bakari in Jabal Habashi and Humeir in Maqbanah to Al-Aqroud, Al-Arbaeen, Samea and positions east of Taiz city. Government military sources said troops thwarted infiltration attempts in Al-Kuraifat, Aqabat Munif and Al-Tashrifat and forced Houthi fighters to withdraw from some positions, claims that could not be independently verified.
Asharq Al-Awsat also reported fighting in Al-Shaqab in Sabir Al-Mawadim and artillery exchanges on the eastern front. Local sources cited by the outlet said 23 mortar shells were fired towards villages in Al-Dhabab, west of Taiz, while the Taiz military axis claimed drone strikes destroyed a 120 mm artillery piece and an ammunition depot in Al-Kadhah.
Colonel Majed Al-Nuzaili, spokesman for government forces, said warplanes carried out 20 strikes in Taiz within three hours on Friday against Houthi personnel, movements, vehicles and military equipment. Reuters reported that the 20-strike figure came from Yemen’s internationally recognized government, while larger battlefield and casualty claims from government aligned sources remain independently unverified.
Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Al-Nuzaili had earlier announced 468 strikes across three fronts, including Al-Wazi’iyah, claiming hundreds of Houthi casualties and destroyed equipment. He also said strikes targeted artillery batteries and a mobile air defence system in Al-Wazi’iyah that he claimed had been developed by Iranian experts in Mocha, an assertion not independently confirmed.
The fighting has also extended towards Lahj and Shabwa, where government aligned forces separately reported repelling Houthi attacks and infiltration attempts.
Taiz lies between Houthi held northern Yemen, government-controlled areas towards Aden and the Red Sea coast, making its roads and surrounding highlands important for moving forces and supplies between different theatres. Its geography also links the inland battlefield with approaches towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The renewed battles follow recent Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and come amid worsening humanitarian pressure. UN special envoy Hans Grundberg said on October 1 that he was “alarmed” by intensified fighting in Taiz, citing reports of casualties, infrastructure damage and road closures and calling on the Houthis to halt their offensive.
Government forces are continuing operations around Taiz, while many casualty and battlefield claims from both the latest ground fighting and air campaign remain independently unverified.