Heavy fighting erupts in Taiz as government forces repel Houthi advances

Intense clashes erupted early Wednesday in various frontlines of Taiz governorate as government forces engaged Houthi militias in fierce and continuous battles across western and southern sectors of the city. The confrontations underscore repeated Houthi attempts to breach government defenses, which have been met with resolute resistance.

Military sources indicate that the engagements are spread across multiple fronts, with the most significant fighting concentrated in the western approaches to the city and the southern and eastern rural areas. The Al-Dabab region, particularly around Mount Han, Al-Siyahi area, and Mount Hadran adjacent to the main western road, is experiencing intense and ongoing confrontations.

Military officials reported that government forces successfully compelled Houthi elements to withdraw from Al-Maqhayah earlier. They affirmed full control over the commanding mountain heights overlooking the Al-Hanjir checkpoint. The sounds of battle and artillery exchanges persist in the Al-Shaqab and Al-Aqrood fronts in southeastern Taiz.

Furthermore, on the southern front, field sources confirmed that government troops forced the Houthi retreat from the Al-Sarari area following fierce fighting. In response to reports of Houthi control over the Al-Hanjir checkpoint in the western entrance of Taiz, government forces denied these claims, stating that the area remains a contested zone with ongoing back-and-forth fighting, not under complete control of any single party.

Military sources emphasized that government forces are positioned on adjacent heights to secure this vital artery and prevent any potential Houthi incursions. Reports from multiple field sources suggest significant casualties, including deaths and injuries, among the Houthi ranks due to the intense combat. Notably, Houthi leader Abdullah bin Yahya Al-Fariq, a prominent figure who had fought on various fronts including Nehm, Al-Bayda, and Al-Mokha, and was recently leading combat groups in Taiz, was reported killed.