Yemen: Fighting intensifies amid Houthi push in the west
Houthi forces are trying to secure high ground and solidify their control of the entry to the Red Sea in the southwest. The Iran-backed militia abandoned a shaky truce with the Saudi-backed government-in-exile in July.
In Yemen's protracted civil war, the Houthi militia is intensifying their push towards the western gateway to the Red Sea in an effort to seize control. The Iran-backed Houthis, who currently hold the capital Sanaa and a majority of the country, launched a ground offensive against the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government-in-exile on Thursday.
Casualty figures have not been officially disclosed, but sources off the record report that both sides have incurred dozens of losses, including civilians. AFP news agency recorded 129 deaths as of Friday. Shelling and artillery fire have forced hundreds of families to flee from Hodeidah and Mokha, two coastal cities held by opposing sides.
Yemen has been embroiled in civil war for nearly 12 years, and recently, a relative lull ended in July due to Iran's conflict in the Gulf. The Houthis are targeting ports and elevated terrain controlled by Saudi-led forces to enhance their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden, leading to open waters.
The Houthis have declared a blockade on ships approaching the Saudi Arabian west coast, while access to eastern ports has been restricted through Hormuz. Military sources confirm multiple casualties on both sides, with estimates ranging from dozens to around 60 on each side. Exchanges of fire, both on land and via rockets and drones, have been reported in Taiz and Hodeidah, the two southwestern provinces.
The Houthis control the critical western port of Hodeidah, but Saudi-led forces dominate a significant portion of Yemen's southwestern tip, including the port of Mokha near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis aim to capture the strategic high ground, such as Mount al-Numan overlooking Mokha, which would grant them a stronger negotiating position with the government and the Saudis.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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