Yemen’s internationally recognised government says its forces have retaken Hais district in Hodeidah province and advanced around the al-Barh junction in western Taiz. The gains are strategically important, but they do not yet represent a decisive shift in the long-running war: the Houthis still control Sanaa and several other cities, while fighting continues around Taiz, Hodeidah and the western Red Sea coast.
Why the latest advances matter
Hais lies at the junction of Hodeidah, Taiz and Ibb provinces. Government forces also say they captured dozens of Houthi fighters during clashes in al-Jarahi district in southern Hodeidah. Advances near al-Barh could help the government push back Houthi positions in western Taiz, a province divided between the two sides.
The fighting is also concentrated near al-Makha, a government-held port, and areas bordering the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The strait connects the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea and is a key route for international shipping, increasing the strategic stakes of the contest. For additional context, see “Fresh fighting in western Taiz forces Yemenis to flee again”.
Why the gains have not settled the war
The Houthis recently seized positions near Taiz and have been trying to cut off al-Makha while moving towards territory near Bab al-Mandeb. Government forces suffered 26 deaths in several hours of fighting on Saturday, according to military sources cited by AFP, showing that the battlefield remains heavily contested.
The latest escalation followed a period of relative calm that had largely held since a United Nations-brokered truce in April 2022. Fighting resumed in early August after government forces launched attacks on Houthi positions across multiple fronts. On Thursday, Houthi forces launched an offensive in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah using ballistic missiles, drones and artillery; about 1,800 families were displaced over the following two days, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. A related part of this story is covered in “Government warplanes strike Houthi positions in Yemen fighting”.
How Saudi Arabia is involved
Saudi Arabia is a key backer of Yemen’s internationally recognised government and has carried out air strikes against Houthi positions in Taiz. The escalation is linked to a wider regional conflict involving Saudi Arabia and Iran-aligned Houthi forces.
The Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in July and began targeting Saudi ships and territory. Saudi Arabia also announced a mission to form an international alliance to protect Red Sea shipping from attacks by the Houthis. The developments have raised the importance of Bab al-Mandeb, particularly after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. The development of this issue can be followed in “What the latest US-Iran tanker attacks mean for the Strait of Hormuz”.
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