Saudi-led coalition aircraft carried out an airstrike on the Hayfan district of Yemen’s Taiz province, Houthi-run Al-Masirah television reported, as fighting intensifies across western Yemen and Houthi forces push toward the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Al-Masirah did not report any casualties or damage from the strike. The attack comes as the Houthis rapidly expand their positions along Yemen’s western coast, while the United Nations says at least 125,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of September.
Yemeni government forces recaptured Mount Numan in western Taiz province early on Sunday as fierce clashes continued with the Iran-aligned Houthis across a chain of highlands southwest of Taiz.
Government forces are seeking to prevent further Houthi advances toward mountains overlooking Bab al-Mandeb and to protect the only remaining overland route linking Taiz city with Al-Turbah, Lahj and Aden.
Military and local sources said forces from the Taiz Axis Forces secured Mount Numan, west of Jabal Habashi, in the early hours of Sunday following clashes with Houthi fighters.
The recapture reconnects the Bani Bakari and Al-Kadha fronts and secures the Bani Bakari-Al-Ashruh-Al-Bireen road, according to the sources.
Control of the mountain also leaves remaining Houthi positions in Al-Sharajah exposed to fire and gives government forces the high ground in an area linked to routes leading toward the western coast.
Houthis push along western coast
The advance comes as the Houthis seek to consolidate their latest gains along Yemen’s western coast. The group seized Hays, Al-Khokha and Mokha about 10 days ago before advancing toward Bab al-Mandeb, Mayyun Island and several other Yemeni islands in the southern Red Sea, according to field reports.
Fighting in western and southwestern Taiz is concentrated around highlands controlling routes between the interior and the coast, particularly Rasn, Numan, Jardad, Al-Kadha and Al-Wazi’iyah.
The Houthis are seeking higher ground to protect their recently captured coastal positions, secure supply lines and facilitate the southward movement of their forces.
The front is particularly important for Taiz city because the Houthis are seeking to move closer to the road that still connects the city overland with Al-Turbah, Lahj and Aden.
Control or disruption of that route could put pressure on one of the most important remaining movement and supply lines for government forces and residents. Recent reporting also confirms that the renewed offensive has sharply altered control along Yemen’s western coast and increased pressure around Bab al-Mandeb.
Govt forces repel Houthi attacks
In southwestern Taiz, government forces and allied tribesmen repelled heavy Houthi attacks in Al-Damdam, Sharirah and Al-Wazi’iyah, according to military and local sources.
Other Houthi attempts to advance toward Mount Rasn also failed.
Control lines around Mount Jardad in Bani Omar have remained unchanged since an initial Houthi assault was repelled. The group later sent reinforcements and launched another attack toward Rasn, but government forces and local fighters pushed it back after hours of clashes.
Houthis seek to secure Bab al-Mandeb gains
The fighting forms part of a broader Houthi effort to consolidate control over the western coast and Bab al-Mandeb by moving from recently captured coastal areas toward the eastern highlands overlooking them.
AFP reported Saturday, citing two Houthi military sources, that experts from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had visited the Bab al-Mandeb area, Mokha port and airport, as well as the Jabal al-Nar camp east of the city.
According to the sources, the experts oversaw tunnel excavation in hills overlooking Mokha and Bab al-Mandeb and discussed installing radars near Mokha and on Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea.
The experts reportedly arrived from Hodeidah and made separate visits on Thursday and Friday. Yemeni government sources told AFP that fighting had meanwhile intensified around the Kahbub mountains overlooking Bab al-Mandeb.
Fighting leaves dozens dead
Military sources told AFP on Saturday that at least 48 people were killed during 24 hours of fighting between government forces and the Houthis along the Taiz-Lahj border.
The reported toll included 17 government troops and 31 Houthi fighters, based on accounts from the two sides.
The government-aligned Tur al-Bahah Military Axis also announced that 13 of its soldiers had been killed during the previous two days on fronts between Lahj and Taiz.
The Houthis, meanwhile, held funerals Saturday for about 75 of their members from 10 Yemeni provinces, including around 25 people who held senior military ranks.
Fighting spreads to other fronts
Clashes have also continued elsewhere in Yemen. Giants Brigades forces targeted Houthi gatherings and vehicles on the Al-Bayda front, while government artillery struck Houthi positions and vehicles on the western front of Marib province.
In Marib, air and ground strikes continued against Houthi concentrations at the Umm Rish camp and Aqabat Mala’a.
Government forces reported foiling three infiltration attempts and repelling a Houthi attack, while military media said 12 members of the group were killed.
The latest escalation has added to Yemen’s already severe humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations reporting that at least 125,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of September.
The renewed fighting has been particularly intense around Taiz and the western coast, forcing families to flee with few belongings while humanitarian organisations struggle to provide shelter, food, water and other essential assistance.
The expanding conflict is also raising wider concerns because Bab al-Mandeb is a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean. Recent fighting has therefore heightened concerns over regional security, shipping and energy supplies.
