Yemeni army claims 1,540 Houthi casualties as fighting intensifies in Taiz

The Yemeni army reported that 1,540 Houthi fighters were killed or wounded within a 24-hour period as fighting intensified in the southwestern province of Taiz. The military operations involved airstrikes, artillery, missiles, and rocket launchers targeting Houthi positions, reinforcements, command centers, and military capabilities across multiple fronts, with a significant number of casualties concentrated in Taiz.

Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a military spokesman, detailed the various types of weapons used in the raids. The ongoing conflict has turned Taiz into a critical battleground, with repeated clashes reported in recent weeks, including around Bani Bakari, Maqbanah, al-Aqroud, and the northern and eastern approaches to Taiz city.

Earlier this week, the Yemeni military closed the al-Houban crossing, a key route linking Houthi-controlled al-Houban to the government-held city of Taiz, citing security concerns following an attempted Houthi infiltration and military buildup. This closure exacerbates the humanitarian situation, as the province is already hosting 97,529 displaced people, bringing the total displaced in Taiz to 13,925 families comprising 97,529 people across 15 districts.