Inside Yemen's front-line city as Houthis battle for control

In southwestern Yemen, a soldier accompanying the reporter described the first drone as a harbinger of an impending attack. The drone's buzzing sound grew louder as they sought refuge under bushes, and soon after, loud thuds echoed from strikes landing indiscriminately. The precise locations of these strikes remained uncertain, shrouded in the thick of conflict.

Government forces and pro-Houthi fighters were locked in a fierce battle to assert control over the mountainous region south-west of Taiz city. The Houthis had recently taken control of the vital port of Mokha, situated 85km west of Taiz, disrupting crucial shipping routes and sparking concerns over oil price surges. Taiz, home to approximately a million people, is strategically located at the nexus of Houthi-controlled northern areas and government-held southern territories.

Government forces hold Taiz's central region, while Houthis occupy the northern and eastern sectors. Recent skirmishes have been concentrated on the western approach, where both sides vie for the strategic high ground. The city's hospitals are inundated with casualties, including a 12-year-old girl, Ghana Nabeel, who suffered head injuries from a mortar explosion while herding goats.

The delicate balance of power in Taiz is further complicated by the presence of various commanders and a multitude of checkpoints, a testament to the fractured nature of the forces fighting within the city.