Former Yemen PM Warns Houthi Siege of Taiz Threatens All of Western Yemen

The Houthi blockade of Taiz poses a significant threat, potentially leading to the fall of western Yemen, according to former Prime Minister Maeen Abdelmalik Saeed. Saeed, who served from 2018 to 2024, emphasized that Taiz, a crucial government stronghold in southwestern Yemen, must be defended at all costs. "It’s a battle which concerns all of the west [of Yemen]," he stated in an interview with The National. "There is no opportunity after that if we can’t reclaim Taiz again, to build a new momentum against the Houthis and Sanaa. This is the importance of Taiz."

Saeed indicated that there is still time to act, as the Houthis, while controlling key highlands around Taiz, are currently in a consolidation phase. They have restricted access to the city, home to nearly a million people, but have not yet imposed a full blockade, aiming to secure control over the rural outskirts first. "They are trying to control all the roads to the city and it seems that they want to seize control of these rural areas and absorb them before they expand into the city. The Houthis will close the siege when they control all these areas," Saeed explained.

The ongoing attack on Taiz is described as "intense," with severe shortages of medicine and fuel impacting the city's hospitals. The Houthi group's recent invasion of the southwest coast and their capture of the port city of Mokha have given them control of the vital Bab Al Mandab strait. Although a government offensive has retaken the center of Mokha, Houthi forces continue to launch heavy bombardments from surrounding hills.

Saeed warned that the current fighting pattern indicates Houthi ambitions to capture other key cities in western Yemen. This follows a recent Houthi missile attack on the Presidential Palace in Aden on Thursday, which resulted in five fatalities. Additionally, there are indications that the Houthis are planning to target Lahj, a city near Aden housing a major military camp. Saeed, now a presidential adviser, believes Lahj is strategically positioned for Houthi assaults on their primary targets: Taiz, Aden, and Mareb.

While food and fuel can still reach Taiz from Aden, this relief is temporary, with a full siege and attempts to enter the city expected within weeks. Saeed noted that the Houthis anticipate significant resistance within and around Taiz, a city he hails from, which has historically championed democracy and a modern state, contrasting with the Houthis' ideology. He suggested that while some tribal families might be sympathetic to the Houthis, local resistance would likely emerge quickly, drawing on Taiz's history of resisting Zaydi Imams from northern Yemen. Furthermore, Saeed believes the Houthis would struggle to finance Taiz's administration, making it a long-term burden even if militarily successful.

The Houthis have recently targeted Saudi Aramco facilities and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, in addition to attacking ships in the Bab Al Mandeb strait. A Saudi official acknowledged that Iran is supporting Houthi advances in Yemen through arms and training. Saeed concurred, viewing Iran's actions as "one of its last cards" in the Gulf, as Arab states have adapted to disruptions in supply lines.

Saeed also highlighted the Houthis' increased capabilities over the past five years, including advanced weaponry for which the Yemeni government and its Gulf allies were unprepared. Reports suggest the Houthis are using Chinese technology to manufacture weapons in Hodeidah, a claim that China has denied, suggesting a third party might be involved. Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah Al Zouba stated that China has promised to investigate the matter. Saeed expressed concern that this development could encourage other radical groups, like Al Shabab in Somalia, to develop similar missile technology, describing it as a cheap and accessible option.