Yemeni Government Forces Close Taiz Crossing and Launch Military Operations
Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces closed the al-Houban crossing in Taiz on Saturday, shutting a vital route that connects Houthi-held territory to government-controlled Taiz city just months after it reopened. The road closure follows a fragile truce that collapsed in July, triggering a sharp escalation in the decade-long civil war. Hundreds of thousands of residents have been displaced since fighting restarted, while urban centers face renewed shelling, airstrikes, and ground clashes.
Military Operations and Front-Line Clashes in Taiz
Government military operations targeted Houthi positions across Yemen following an intense escalation on multiple fronts. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, Yemen’s military spokesman, stated on X that armed forces carried out nearly 500 military operations over a 24-hour period. Al-Nazili reported that these operations killed or wounded 1,540 Houthi rebels, with the heaviest casualties concentrated in the contested governorate of Taiz.
Al Jazeera’s Maha Ali, reporting from Taiz, noted that the western outskirts of the city are experiencing severe bombardment and an exceptionally heavy volume of fire from Houthi positions. In the mountainous Samea front, Houthi forces advanced on Friday, prompting large-scale civilian displacement not seen in the region for over a decade. Meanwhile, military officials reported airstrikes and artillery duels in the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa.
Security Concerns Behind the al-Houban Border Crossing Closure
Ammar al-Sami’i, an army media official, told Al Jazeera that security threats forced the closure of the al-Houban crossing. The checkpoint was previously shut for nine years before reopening to civilians in 2024 for humanitarian reasons.
Al-Sami’i cited recent Houthi infiltration attempts near the road, ongoing attacks in the surrounding area, and a broader military buildup as the primary reasons for shutting the gate once again. The closure severs one of the few remaining direct transit corridors between opposing factions in the divided region.
Civilian Toll and Humanitarian Impact of the Resumed Conflict
The renewed hostilities continue to inflict heavy casualties on the civilian population trapped in contested zones. Residents in Taiz and surrounding areas have issued urgent pleas for evacuation as artillery shells strike residential neighborhoods. A shell hit a residential area in Dhubab, killing an infant from shrapnel injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Escalation in Yemen
Why did authorities close the al-Houban crossing?
Army media official Ammar al-Sami’i stated that security risks, including a Houthi infiltration attempt and a heavy military buildup near the road, forced the closure of the checkpoint.
When did fighting escalate between government forces and the Houthis?
Fighting escalated significantly after a fragile truce between the two sides collapsed in July, following a Houthi offensive in mid-September that seized the port city of Mocha and strategic islands in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
How many casualties were reported by the military?
Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili reported that government military operations killed or wounded 1,540 Houthi rebels over a 24-hour period, primarily in the Taiz governorate.
Worth a look