Houthis Advance on Taiz as US Stays Out of Yemen
Yemeni government forces face intensified Houthi offensives in central and eastern provinces while American support remains limited.
Key points
- Houthi militants are launching a new offensive to cut off government forces in central Yemen, specifically targeting the Taiz region.
- Saudi Arabia has conducted over 900 airstrikes since the latest escalation, while US calls for direct intervention have gone unanswered.
- Control of Marib and Taiz is viewed as critical; capturing both would significantly weaken the internationally recognized government.
The campaign by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen has entered a new and more ambitious phase, according to regional analysts. After securing a significant stretch of the Red Sea coastline, the group is now launching a major offensive aimed at isolating government forces in central Yemen.
This escalation occurs amid a notable diplomatic silence from Washington. Despite Saudi Arabia’s appeals for direct American airstrikes to reverse recent Houthi gains, US intervention has remained limited, leaving the Gulf monarchies to manage the frontlines with their own assets.
Frontlines shift toward strategic Taiz
The current military focus has moved away from the western coast to the mountainous region of Taiz. Yemen analyst Mohammed al-Basha stated that cutting the routes through Taiz would sever a key transport and supply connection for government-held areas. While the Houthis have faced stiff resistance from local tribes, the risk of surrounding the city remains high.
Unlike the rapid collapse of defenses in the west, where the port of Mocha fell within hours, the situation in Taiz remains fluid. As of Monday, government forces still control a critical road junction connecting Taiz and Aden, an area that hosts hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people.
Saudi air power counters Houthi push
Saudi Arabia has deployed fighter jets and missiles to stem the militant advance south toward Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that Saudi authorities have carried out 157 aircraft and missile strikes across four provinces, bringing the total to 917 since the latest escalation began.
Government forces have used artillery and rocket systems, supported by these Saudi airstrikes, to repel Houthi forces in the Marib province near the Saudi border. A senior commander asserted that his troops have gone on the offensive, although CNN could not independently verify the specific claims made by either side regarding the intensity of the air campaign.
Strategic stakes in oil-rich Marib
Heavy fighting is also reported in Marib, an oil-rich region that has long been a target for the Houthis. According to the Institute for the Study of War, the group likely seeks to capture the area to extract and export oil through the Red Sea, which could provide funding for their political and military activities.
The Houthis currently control a large portion of western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, where more than 70 percent of the population resides. Analysts warn that if the Houthis capture both Taiz and Marib, it would represent a decisive shift in the balance of power, though defenders are currently putting up a strong fight.
