Yemen’s internationally recognised government carried out at least 15 air strikes on Friday against Houthi positions, gatherings and vehicles in the western provinces of Taiz and Hodeidah, according to the Yemeni military. The attacks supported government forces fighting a Houthi offensive toward the Red Sea coast and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The escalation follows fighting that began on Thursday, when Houthi forces used ballistic missiles, drones and artillery in attempts to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah toward al-Makha, a government-held port near the strait. More than 120 fighters have been killed since the offensive began, according to an AFP tally.
Where the fighting is concentrated
The clashes have centred on areas west of Taiz and around al-Makha. A Yemeni official in Aden told AFP that the Houthis were seeking hills overlooking Bab al-Mandeb and al-Makha before pushing toward the coast.
The al-Barah and Maqbanah areas have seen particularly heavy fighting, according to reporting from the area. A main road through the region is used to resupply government forces in Taiz and al-Makha. A ballistic missile also struck a restaurant in the al-Makha area, killing and injuring civilians, according to government-run Saba TV.
Key points
- The latest air campaign took place in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces.
- The offensive has focused on routes and high ground near al-Makha and Bab al-Mandeb.
- A missile strike on a crowded road south of Taiz killed at least four civilians and injured nine others, according to Saba news agency.
- Government aircraft had also struck Houthi targets on July 25 and the runway at Houthi-held Sanaa International Airport on July 13.
Why Bab al-Mandeb matters
The Houthis’ attempted advance could strengthen their position along the Red Sea and threaten a key government supply route. The group has previously attacked commercial and military vessels in the area. For additional context, see “Fresh fighting in western Taiz forces Yemenis to flee again”.
The fighting is unfolding amid wider regional tensions. The Houthis have declared a Red Sea maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, while disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israel war with Iran has increased the strategic importance of alternative routes through the Red Sea.
How Yemen’s air force fits into the war
Yemen’s armed forces fractured after the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014 and the political crisis developed into war. Saudi Arabia’s intervention in 2015 included attacks on airbases, air-defence systems and combat aircraft, leaving the Yemeni government with a depleted air force.
Saudi-led coalition aircraft supplied much of the air power supporting government forces between 2015 and the 2022 truce. The coalition conducted tens of thousands of air raids during that period, while Human Rights Watch documented dozens of apparently unlawful attacks on civilian sites between 2014 and 2022.
A United Nations-brokered truce sharply reduced fighting in April 2022, but no comprehensive peace agreement followed after its formal expiry six months later. Front lines remained largely frozen until tensions increased, including with the government’s July strikes. A related part of this story is covered in “Why the Strait of Hormuz crisis is reshaping global shipping”.
What happens next
Government-aligned forces have sent reinforcements, and the next phase is expected to focus on contested positions, attempts to recover high ground and efforts to prevent another Houthi push toward the Taiz-al-Makha corridor. Jabal Numan remains a key immediate objective, according to Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen analyst and former spokesperson for Yemen’s embassy in Washington.
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