"Houthi gunmen have captured the al-Safiya area, seized control of the police station, and severed the main road leading into Taiz," a Yemen police source informed AFP today.

Three anonymous sources within the Yemen government military corroborated this, asserting that the armed group has effectively encircled Taiz.

Neither the Yemen government nor the Houthi group has commented on the reports.

Taiz, Yemen's third largest city, spans 42,3 square kilometers with a population of approximately 940,000, situated about 1,400 meters above sea level. Since the outbreak of the Yemen civil war, it has been a flashpoint for clashes between Houthi forces and those aligned with the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the internationally recognized and Arab Saudi-backed governing body of Yemen.

The strategic city and its surrounding areas have seen years of protracted fighting as both sides vie for control. While Yemen government forces have held Taiz for years, Houthi units have gradually advanced, approaching the city from the north, east, and west.

The encirclement around Taiz eased slightly in June 2024 with the reopening of some routes into the city. However, the situation worsened in September, with fierce clashes erupting on the Taiz front in recent days.

Location of Taiz city. *Graphic: CNN*

On 4/10, PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced the mobilization of "all army units, armed forces, and security forces" for an operation to reclaim Houthi-controlled areas.

This move marks a significant escalation in the Yemen conflict, following a swift Houthi offensive that secured vast areas along the Red Sea coast. Despite Arab Saudi's support, Yemen government forces have been unable to repel Houthi advances.

Houthi soldiers patrol in the capital Sanaa, Yemen on 12/9. *Photo: AFP*

Fighting in Yemen reignited in July after years of relative calm. Houthi also declared a maritime blockade against Arab Saudi, launching repeated attacks on its oil and gas infrastructure and cargo vessels.

Having seized control of the Red Sea coastal region and strategic islands guarding the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Houthi maintains that maritime operations there are safe, except for Arab Saudi vessels. However, any assault in the area risks deterring shipping companies.

Nguyen Tien (AFP, Reuters)