Renewed Houthi Offensive in Taiz Sparks Fresh Displacement and Escalates Yemen Conflict

Taiz, Yemen – Abdullah Saeed, 47, previously fled his home in the Maqbanah district west of Taiz in 2022, settling in al-Rahabah camp in the Jabal Habashi area 90km (55 miles) south. Despite struggling to meet basic needs alongside 300 other families, they found temporary peace far from the frontlines until renewed battles reached Jabal Habashi.

An abrupt attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted the district and other southwestern areas, prompting heavy fighting. As the Houthis advanced toward al-Rahabah, Saeed and hundreds of others fled once again. "Fighting erupted suddenly at night. We were far from the battlefield, but in the morning, we were shocked to see the frontlines near our camp," Saeed told Al Jazeera. Having experienced being caught in the crossfire in 2022, residents evacuated before the battle reached them, leaving behind camps and neighboring villages in urgent need of shelter and basic services.

The sudden offensive began early Thursday morning when the Houthis launched missile, drone, and ground attacks against government forces on the western fronts of Taiz governorate, including Maqbanah. The pro-Iranian Houthis advanced across Maqbanah, Mawzaa, and Jabal Habashi districts, causing a new wave of displacement. Saudi-backed government forces stated they are confronting the push and have retaken certain areas, while military reinforcements arrive for both sides amid rising casualties.

Yahiya Lutf, a pro-government fighter in Jabal Habashi, noted that the Houthis attempted to sever the main road between Taiz city and the Red Sea coast but failed. Meanwhile, a Houthi source in Sanaa stated the battles aim to break the siege on Yemen, particularly at sea.

Yemeni journalist Odai al-Dokhaini highlighted the strategic importance of the frontlines, noting that cutting the road linking Taiz to al-Makha would heavily impact both locations. Political analyst Abdulsattar al-Shamiri connected the developments to broader regional events, suggesting the attacks form part of a wider strategy by Iran and its allies to project strength along the Red Sea.