Over 500 killed in Yemen as government forces seize areas in Taiz and Hodeidah
Yemeni government forces have announced control of two areas in Taiz province and launched a counteroffensive against the Houthis in multiple provinces, including seizing the Hays district in Hodeidah, as fighting that began with a Houthi offensive last week has killed more than 500 people.
Casualties from renewed fighting
At least 278 Houthi fighters, 216 government soldiers and 29 civilians have been killed since the Houthi offensive began last week, according to an AFP tally based on sources from both sides. [2] The total exceeds 500 deaths in the renewed clashes that erupted after the Houthi militia launched its push on Thursday. [2] The breakdown includes fighters from both sides along with civilians caught in the crossfire across Taiz and other provinces. [2] The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that the situation risks further deterioration of the humanitarian conditions already affecting millions across the region. [2] Sources on both sides of the conflict provided the fatality figures compiled by AFP. [2] The death toll reflects intensive battles that have continued without pause since the offensive started. [2]
Government counteroffensive gains
Government forces have taken control of Al-Mihal and Al-Mukazama areas west of Taiz, seized the strategic Hays district in Hodeidah, and launched an offensive in al-Jawf province seen as a gateway to Sanaa. [1] [5] Chief of staff of the Taiz military axis stated that the army took control of the Al-Mihal and Al-Mukazama areas. [1] Yemen’s Deputy Defence Minister Major General Samir al-Sabri told state television that the government had decided to retake Sanaa. [5] Majid al-Nuzaili, a spokesman for the government-aligned forces, said the campaign would liberate Yemen from the grip of the Ansar Allah group and restore Sanaa as a capital for all Yemenis. [5] Pro-government forces said they started a ground offensive toward the al-Labanat mountains in al-Jawf, carried out rocket strikes on Yatma and advanced toward Dhi Na’im district in al-Bayda. [5] Local media reported air strikes on Houthi positions west of Taiz. [5] Saudi Arabia-backed government forces said they targeted Houthi positions with rocket and drone strikes as intensive battles were ongoing with ground troops in Taiz, Bayda, and Jawf. [5]
Yemeni government forces advance during clashes with Houthi militants in Taiz province. — Source: vg
Houthi offensive objectives and responses
The Houthi offensive aims to control the Bab al-Mandab Strait, isolate the government-held port of Mokha and seize western coastal areas. [2] The militia initiated the offensive on Thursday to gain control over the strategically important Bab al-Mandab strait between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. [2] Houthi forces also targeted reinforcements in al-Jawf with ballistic missiles. [5] According to Mohammed al-Farah, a member of the Ansar Allah political bureau, the group had pushed back the advance toward al-Labanat as dozens of pro-government fighters were killed or injured. [5] Saba news agency, which is affiliated with the Houthi movement, reported that seven people were killed by Saudi air strikes on the prison in Al-Hazm in the north of Yemen, including one child visiting the facility. [5] Ansar Allah military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi Arabia launched 121 air strikes across Marib, al-Bayda, Hodeidah, Taiz and al-Jawf, warning that the group would respond with even stronger and wider strikes. [5]
Cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia
The fighting has spilled over into Saudi Arabia, with Houthis attacking oil facilities in Abha, Jazan, Najran and Khamis Mushait, wounding at least 73 civilians; Saudi Arabia has conducted air strikes on Houthi areas, including a prison in al-Hazm that killed seven including a child. [2] [5] A spokesman for the Saudi armed forces, General Major Turki al-Malki, confirmed that oil facilities and other infrastructure in Abha, Jazan, Najran and Khamis Mushait were attacked on Tuesday. [2] Several of the oil facilities stood in flames on Tuesday evening, and power supply in southern Saudi Arabia was also affected, the energy department stated. [2] At least 73 civilians, including women and children, were wounded in the fresh Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s southern provinces. [5] Riyadh condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation and said it would respond. [5] Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Houthis are trying to export their own problems to Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s government, describing their actions as selfishness. [5] The Saudi Ministry of Energy said several energy sector facilities and installations in southern areas of the kingdom were hit early on Tuesday, wounding a number of citizens and residents and sparking fires at several locations. [5]
Yemeni government forces advance in Taiz and Hodeidah amid clashes that killed over 500 people. — Source: anadolu
Displacement and humanitarian impact
At least 18,500 people have been displaced in the last 72 hours amid fighting in Taiz and Hodeidah, with the International Organization for Migration warning the number continues to rise. [3] The International Organization for Migration said the number continues to rise as families flee renewed hostilities. [3] The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned of further deterioration of the humanitarian situation affecting millions and called for immediate de-escalation. [2] ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric stated that if the situation is not brought under control it could worsen the already devastating humanitarian situation that millions of people in the region face. [2] The World Health Organisation said at least 728 people had been killed or wounded since 23 August, primarily in Taiz and along Yemen’s western coast. [5] Some 21,000 people have been displaced from Taiz since Thursday, according to multiple reports. [5]
Regional reactions and parallels
Syrians on social media are drawing parallels with the fall of the Assad regime and expressing support for Yemeni government actions. [4] The Syrian Revolution 2011 page shared a video of a Syrian fighter taking down a poster of Bashar al-Assad in 2024, accompanied by one of a Yemeni boy taking down a poster of Houthi leader Abdel Malik al-Houthi recently, captioned “from Syria to Yemen, victory is due to those peoples who do not surrender”. [4] Syrian journalist Hadi Abdullah shared a picture of himself wearing traditional Yemeni dress and a dagger, saying, “Our Hearts are with Happy Yemen and its people”. [4] The internationally recognised Yemeni government’s information minister, Muammar Al-Eriani, thanked Syrians for their support, stating that the popular campaign launched by Syrians on social media platforms was a profound expression of the bond of brotherhood between two peoples who have both tasted the bitterness of repression and the growing influence of Iran’s proxies. [4] Some Syrians referred to Yemeni government operations against the Houthis as “Deterring Aggression”, the name which Syrian rebels gave to their offensive which overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. [4]
What to watch next: The International Committee of the Red Cross has called for immediate de-escalation to prevent further worsening of conditions for millions, while Saudi Arabia has stated it will respond to attacks but supports diplomatic solutions, and Houthi officials have warned of stronger strikes in reply to air campaigns.
