Fighting has intensified around Yemen’s strategic city of Taiz as Houthi forces attempt to expand their control and pressure government-held positions, marking a major escalation in a conflict that had remained relatively frozen since the 2022 UN-brokered truce.
Yemeni government forces said they carried out multiple air strikes against Houthi positions, personnel and military equipment across Taiz province. Ground clashes have also spread across several fronts surrounding the city, with government forces reporting that they repelled Houthi attacks.
Taiz holds significant strategic importance because it connects Houthi-controlled northern areas with government-held territory in the south and provides routes towards the Red Sea coast and the key southern port city of Aden. The Houthis have also sought to disrupt supply routes linking Taiz with Aden, potentially increasing pressure on government forces inside the city.
The escalation is also worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. The UN has warned that intensified fighting poses serious risks to civilians, while renewed violence has displaced more than 130,000 people in recent weeks. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg has called on the Houthis to halt their offensive and urged all sides to protect civilians and infrastructure.
