Yemeni Air Force Strikes Houthi Positions in Taiz for First Time

The Yemeni Armed Forces' air component engaged in combat operations for the first time on Friday, launching airstrikes against Houthi militia positions in the Hays front, west of Taiz governorate, in southwestern Yemen.

This development occurred amid escalating fighting across multiple fronts in Taiz and the western coastal region. The Taiz Axis Information Center announced via the X platform on Friday evening that the air force provided aerial support to ground forces, targeting Houthi militia sites in the Hays front. This marks the initial instance of air force strikes against militia positions in this particular front.

The air intervention coincides with intensified confrontations that began at dawn on Thursday across various fronts in Taiz and the western coast. Engagement between government forces and Houthi militia has heightened, accompanied by mutual military movements along the lines of contact.

The Hays front holds significant strategic importance as it forms part of the extended confrontation lines along the western coast. Concurrently, other areas within Taiz governorate have experienced a surge in military tension since the commencement of the recent wave of fighting.

The Information Center has not disclosed specific details regarding the nature of the targeted sites or the extent of any resulting casualties. These developments unfold as Taiz and western coastal fronts witness their most severe military escalation in weeks, with persistent tension along the lines of contact, thereby increasing the likelihood of wider confrontations in one of Yemen's most militarily sensitive regions.