Clashes between the Houthi militia and the security forces of the internationally recognized government in Yemen have intensified once again.
According to the international news agency, a fierce battle has been going on in the Yemeni regions west of Taiz and south of Hodeidah for the past 48 hours. News
Houthi sources told Al Jazeera that more than 100 Ansar Allah (Houthi) fighters and Yemeni government forces have been killed in the ongoing fighting on various fronts between Taiz and Hodeidah.
According to reports, the Houthis launched surprise attacks against government forces on several fronts in western Taiz on Thursday morning.
The ground fighting began after the use of missiles and drones in the operation, which local sources described as one of the most intense clashes in the area since 2022.
Houthi fighters advanced on several fronts in the areas of Maqbanah, Muzaa and Jabal Habashi, as a result of which there are reports of the local population being displaced once again.
On the other hand, the army of the internationally recognized government has claimed that government forces have regained control of some places, forcing the Houthis to retreat.
According to the Yemeni army’s media center, at least 18 Houthi fighters were killed in clashes on Thursday, while several were injured or captured.
On the other hand, a military source told the French news agency AFP that 13 government officials were also killed in the fighting. News
Claim of launching 14 ballistic missiles
According to the Yemeni army, the Houthis launched 14 ballistic missiles targeting the areas of Taiz and Hodeidah, while several drones were also used.
The military said the Houthis attacked military positions in the mountainous area of Maqbanah in western Taiz and tried to enter the areas of Al-Ahtub, Al-Tawir, Al-Kadaha and Jabal Ghabari.
According to government forces, one of the main objectives of these attacks was to cut off the main road connecting Taiz city to the Red Sea coast and the port of Al-Mokha.
Why is Al-Mokha important?
Al-Mokha (Mocha) port is a key location on the southern coast of the Red Sea. The road leading to it from Taiz is considered a key supply route for government forces.
Analysts say that if the Houthis gain effective control of this route, they can isolate government forces in Taiz from the coastal areas and further strengthen their position on the Red Sea coast.
Al-Mokha port has also been prominent in recent Houthi operations. In recent weeks, missile and drone attacks on the port have disrupted activities. Experts say control of Mokha could give the Houthis more strategic access near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Mass displacement of civilians
The renewed fighting between the Houthis and government forces has also forced civilians in affected areas to move to safer places.
According to Al Jazeera, about 300 families in a camp near Jabal Habashi have been displaced again. Some families were previously displaced from their homes due to fighting in 2022 and are now once again looking for safe places.
The United Nations and human rights organizations have already considered Yemen one of the world’s major humanitarian crises, while the long war has severely affected the country’s infrastructure and food and health systems.
The Houthis’ position
A Houthi source in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, told Al Jazeera that the recent fighting is part of what he called an attempt to “break the siege on Yemenis”.
The source said the Houthis are particularly keen to ease pressure on the maritime front. However, Houthi media have not officially released full details of the recent fighting or casualty figures.
Is there a risk of a full-scale war in Yemen again?
The war between the Houthis and the government in Yemen intensified in 2014 when the Houthis seized large parts of the country’s north and west, including the capital Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition later intervened militarily in support of the government.
Several fronts have remained relatively calm since a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022, but the conflict has not ended completely.
In recent months, there has been an increase in renewed attacks and counterattacks between the Houthis and government forces.
Both sides have claimed more than 100 deaths in clashes between the Houthis and government forces in Yemen, but this has not yet been independently confirmed.