The front lines surrounding Taiz, Yemen’s cultural capital, have become the site of renewed and brutal combat. Following the collapse of a four-year ceasefire, Houthi forces have launched a significant offensive, seizing the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha on September 10. This advancement has granted the group control over territory overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical maritime corridor for global trade.

The fighting has left Taiz, a city of nearly one million people, hemmed in by front lines. Government forces maintain control of the city center, while Houthi fighters occupy positions to the north, east, and along the western approaches. The proximity of these forces has resulted in constant shelling and drone activity, forcing families to flee their homes. Residents remaining near the front lines, such as those tending to livestock, report being trapped between the necessity of survival and the danger of incoming fire.

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The human toll of the conflict is increasingly visible in local medical facilities. At al-Thawra hospital, the intensive care unit is at capacity with both combatants and civilians, including children wounded by shrapnel. Meanwhile, displacement camps south of the city are struggling to accommodate a surge of arrivals. According to the UN refugee agency, more than 130,000 people have been displaced across Yemen in September alone, with warnings that the total could rise significantly in the coming months.

The conflict remains highly fractured, with government-held routes marked by numerous checkpoints controlled by various commanders. As the Houthis consolidate their positions, both sides are preparing for further escalation. The Houthis continue to utilize drones and other weaponry, while the Saudi-led coalition provides air support and arms to the internationally recognized government. Both sides have faced scrutiny regarding the recruitment of minors, a practice the Houthis pledged to end in 2022.

Source: BBC News