Taiz (HRNW)- Yemen’s internationally recognized government says its air force conducted 20 airstrikes against Houthi targets in Taiz province within three hours, as fighting intensifies in the strategically important southwestern region.
Yemeni military spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili said the strikes targeted Houthi movements, reinforcements, gatherings, personnel, vehicles and military equipment in several areas of Taiz. He claimed the strikes hit their targets and caused losses to Houthi personnel and equipment. The Houthis had not immediately commented on the reported strikes.
The renewed fighting marks a significant escalation following a relative lull in cross-border hostilities after the 2022 UN-brokered truce. Control of Taiz is strategically important because of the province’s location and its links to northern Yemen, the Red Sea coast and the southern city of Aden.
The escalation has also contributed to further displacement. The Internationally recognized government’s figures cited by Al Jazeera indicate that more than 97,000 internally displaced people are registered in Taiz province, while renewed fighting could create additional pressure on civilians and humanitarian services.
Yemeni authorities have also closed around 19 roads leading into Taiz, declaring affected routes military operation zones amid the fighting. The closures include important roads connecting Taiz with other parts of the country.
Separately, a Saudi-led coalition has accused the Houthi movement of attacking an electricity distribution station in Medina, which supplies power to the Prophet’s Mosque. The coalition said one transformer was damaged but that the wider electricity network remained operational. The Houthis have denied responsibility for the incident.
The latest developments reflect a broader escalation involving Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Houthi movement, with concerns also extending to maritime security around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
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