⚔️🚀 Houthis squeeze Taiz, Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s second city

The Ansar Allah-aligned Yemeni Armed Forces have reached the western, eastern and southern approaches into Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city and second-most important strategic stronghold of the Aden-based government.

OSINT monitoring indicates the city is surrounded from all sides, and that Saudi forces launched air raids on advancing forces to the east and west on Tuesday. Unverified social media footage purports to show Houthi-aligned forces reaching the al-Hajar area, ~7km from the city center.

A source told regional newspaper al-Akhbar the Houthis want to avoid fighting inside the city proper to prevent civilian casualties, and have offered enemy “mercenaries” safe passage out of the urban agglomeration of ~1M people. City residents have been promised protection of life and property.

Several enemy commanders and officials from the coalition tasked with defending Taiz have reportedly left the city for Aden or Marib, but Aden government sources maintain their forces are “repelling” Houthi attacks and maintaining their positions. Heavy fighting has been reported in areas including Jabal Sabir and Jabal Al-Arus, both to the south.

Gulf-backed and Western media including AP have alleged that Taiz is facing a “humanitarian disaster” due to a Houthi “siege,” but Sanaa has pledged to reopen roads and address fuel and cooking-gas shortages.

Elsewhere along the front, Ansar Allah forces have reached the town of Al Musaymir, 85km northwest of Aden. Further to the north, they’re operating ~30km west of Marib City, the Saudi-backed government’s energy capital.

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