The UN-recognised Yemeni government and the Houthi group are engaged in intense fighting across Taiz, the western coast, al-Jawf, Marib and Dhalea. Aid agencies say at least 194 people have been killed and 880 wounded in parts of those areas during the past two weeks.
The competing offensives reflect a struggle for control of routes, territory and resources. Houthi gains could bring the group closer to the Red Sea and southern Yemen, while government advances could threaten Houthi supply lines and positions in the north.
The western coast is tied to Red Sea access
The Houthis have intensified missile, drone and ground attacks around al-Makha, a coastal district with a port on the Red Sea. Yazeed al-Jeddawy of the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies said the group is seeking commanding terrain and roads linking Taiz with al-Makha, while trying to prevent government forces on the western coast from joining the Taiz Military Axis.
Al-Jeddawy said a substantial Houthi advance towards the Dhubab–Bab al-Mandeb area could strengthen the group’s position near the southern entrance to the Red Sea and increase its leverage over international shipping. Fuad Mussed, a Yemeni political analyst, described the strait as a key reason both Taiz and the western coast are strategically important.
Key points
- Al-Makha, also known as Mocha, is about 60km (37 miles) from the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
- Marib has remained under government control since the Houthis captured large parts of northern Yemen, including Sanaa, in 2014.
- Dhalea connects Houthi-controlled northern areas with southern governorates held by the internationally recognised government.
- Al-Jawf borders Saudi Arabia and is adjacent to Marib.
Marib and al-Jawf could reshape the northern balance
Pro-government forces have recently attacked Houthi-held territory in Marib and al-Jawf, prompting Houthi retaliation. Marib is a government stronghold and an oil-producing region; Saddam al-Huraibi, a Yemeni political commentator, said a Houthi takeover would threaten the government’s presence and leverage in northern Yemen. For additional context, see “Houthi forces say they have seized Mocha as Yemen fighting widens”.
The Houthis have sought control of Marib’s oil and gas infrastructure for more than a decade, according to al-Huraibi. Government gains in al-Jawf could ease pressure on Marib and force the Houthis to defend a wider area. Al-Jeddawy said they could also open routes towards Saada, Amran or Houthi positions north of Marib.
Dhalea remains a gateway between north and south
Fighting has intensified in Dhalea, a strategic passage between Houthi-held territory and southern governorates. The front did not fully fall quiet during the relative calm that followed the UN-brokered ceasefire in April 2022.
A Houthi advance could open access to other southern areas. A government advance could threaten Houthi positions and supply routes towards Ibb, al-Bayda and, farther north, Sanaa, according to al-Jeddawy.
The escalation also has a regional dimension
Khaled Ghorab, a pro-Houthi general, said Houthi forces had prepared for a sustained attack involving land, sea and air operations. He said that readiness could allow responses against military bases or aircraft carriers as far away as the Horn of Africa. A related part of this story is covered in “What the latest US-Iran tanker attacks mean for the Strait of Hormuz”.
Al-Jeddawy said the escalation reflects domestic military and political aims but cannot be separated from the wider regional war. He said Iran has an interest in keeping Yemen and the Red Sea active as sources of leverage, while some government forces view pressure on the Houthis as an opportunity to weaken them.
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