Yemen's Houthis face costly battle for control of Taiz, stronghold of anti-rebel resistance

Yemen's Houthi rebels are poised for a challenging campaign as they endeavor to seize control of Taiz, a city that has long served as a bastion of resistance against their rule. Taiz, located in southwestern Yemen, currently falls under the jurisdiction of government forces, yet it has remained besieged by the Houthis and stands as a pivotal battleground in the nation's ongoing civil war. Strategically situated within the conflict, Taiz is seen as a symbol of defiance against Iran-aligned forces.

During the Houthi military push in 2015, local fighters, largely armed with personal weapons, thwarted the rebels' efforts to fully seize the city. "In Taiz, the people will fight the Houthis. There is a popular resistance from civilians," affirmed a Yemeni official to The National. Notably, many senior Yemeni government officials hail from Taiz, implying that the city's populace will resist the Houthis' advance until they are expelled.

Recently, the intensity of combat around Taiz has escalated, prompting apprehensions that the Houthis might aim to firmly establish their presence in the city. Ahmed Nagi, a Yemen expert at the Crisis Group, stated, "It will not be an easy feat for the Houthis to capture Taiz." He highlighted the city's storied history of local resistance and its symbolic significance as a symbol of opposition to Houthi rule.

Nagi added that if the Houthis persist in intensifying their attacks and attempt to capture Taiz, it is likely to incur significant losses in terms of personnel and time. He emphasized that the current level of fighting is already exceedingly intense, suggesting that securing the city would prove to be a formidable task for the rebels.

However, the Houthis are not striving to "enter the city directly," instead opting to encircle it, cut its primary supply route, and exert pressure from the outside. This tactic could complicate matters for government forces attempting to push the Houthis out.

The fighting around Taiz has garnered attention as it may serve as an indicator of whether the conflict's front lines are shifting after years of military stalemate. If government forces manage to gain ground in Taiz, this could potentially pressure Houthis' forces in other areas, leading to potential withdrawals from multiple fronts. Saudi Arabia is contemplating an offensive against the Houthis, contemplating a coastal push to secure the Red Sea shipping route or an assault on multiple fronts.

Pakistan has dispatched four cargo planes laden with military equipment, including air defense systems, light artillery, drones, and anti-drone systems, to Aden, Yemen's temporary capital. Additionally, Pakistani military advisers have joined forces with Saudi counterparts to support Yemeni forces. Similarly, Turkish drones procured by Saudi Arabia prior to the current war have been deployed over Yemen.

The city of Taiz, once an industrial powerhouse, has endured years of conflict, siege, and intermittent violence since the civil war's onset in 2014. Despite periods of reduced fighting, the city has not fully recovered, as noted by Dina El Mamoun, Yemen director for Civic, a civil protection group. She cautioned that the current intensity of the fighting mirrors that witnessed in 2015, raising concerns over civilian harm, killings, and injuries.

Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, has been divided into areas controlled by the Houthis and those under government control, forcing civilians to flee their homes multiple times. Many residents have voiced their determination to remain and fight until the bitter end. Aid advocates fear that any significant population displacement would strain humanitarian response efforts.

As of now, 74% of households in accessible areas are unable to meet their basic food needs, a stark increase from previous years, as the conflict escalates and economic conditions deteriorate.