PNN – Recent developments on the ground in Yemen have once again turned Taiz into the main theater of battle between Yemeni revolutionaries and Saudi-backed forces.
Unlike the sporadic clashes of recent months, the current fighting in Yemen is now directly impacting supply routes, the Red Sea coast, and the strategic balance in the south of the country. Since last night, field reports have indicated a large-scale operation by Ansarullah across several fronts in Taiz Governorate. Sources close to Sana’a have reported advances by Yemeni forces in the Jabal Habashi, Al-Shamayatayn, and Same’ areas, as well as a push toward Al-Turbah. The newspaper Al-Akhbar also reported today that Ansarullah forces have advanced in parts of southern Taiz and are attempting to exert pressure on the main routes connecting Taiz and Aden, as well as the road linking Al-Turbah and Taiz.
Taiz: The Connectivity Hub between North and South Yemen
The significance of these developments lies in the geography of Taiz. This city is one of Yemen’s most critical connectivity hubs, situated between Sana’a-controlled areas in the north and regions in the south held by Saudi-backed proxies in Aden. According to a BBC report from late September, the city center remained under the control of Saudi-backed forces, while Ansarullah positions extended across the north and east of the city, with the main fighting taking place along western axes and on the high ground overlooking the route to the south.
However, the significance of Taiz extends beyond the city itself; the region serves as a vital link between Yemen’s interior and the western coast. Ansar Allah has made significant advances along the western coast in recent weeks, and their seizure of areas surrounding Mocha has heightened the strategic importance of the high ground and routes around Taiz.
Indeed, any progress made in Taiz could bolster Ansarullah’s ability to consolidate and expand their gains on the western coast. Conversely, Saudi-backed forces rely on southern routes to maintain the connection between Taiz, Lahj, and Aden, making this axis one of the most critical fronts in the current conflict in Yemen.
Ansarullah Pressures Supply Lines of Saudi-Backed Forces
In this context, Hijat al-Abed has emerged as a critical battleground. This pass serves as the primary link connecting Taiz to Lahj and Aden; any prolonged disruption or severance of this route would severely hinder the movement of troops and equipment from the south to the Taiz front.
Field reports from today indicate intense fighting along this axis, with Ansarullah attempting to cut off the supply lines of Saudi-backed forces. Sources close to Sana’a have also reported the capture of areas south of Taiz and an advance toward Al-Turbah—positions that could directly impact the communication routes linking Taiz to the south.
Developments on the ground have not been limited to this alone. Today, the Saudi-backed government announced that its fighter jets had carried out 20 strikes against Ansar Allah forces, vehicles, and equipment in Taiz province over a three-hour period. Reports also indicate that approximately 19 access routes into the province have been closed due to the intensity of the fighting.
The death of Mohammed Salem Abdullah al-Khawlani—chief of staff of the strike forces affiliated with Yemen’s Presidential Council—on the Al-Kadha front further signals that the battle in this sector has entered an intense phase.
In contrast, sources close to Ansarullah report the withdrawal of certain pro-Saudi forces and the expansion of operations from the southern fronts to the western and northern axes. Should this pressure succeed in disrupting the supply lines between Taiz and Aden for a prolonged period, maintaining the positions held by Saudi-backed forces in parts of Taiz will become increasingly difficult.
The Battle for Taiz and the New Equation at Bab al-Mandab
Nevertheless, it is still too early to speak with certainty about the fall or total liberation of Taiz. Saudi-backed forces maintain a presence in parts of the city and province, and their ongoing airstrikes and ground operations indicate a continued effort to hold these positions.
What matters now is the gradual shift in the geography of the conflict. Ansarullah is attempting to extend its pressure from the northern and eastern areas of Taiz toward the southern and western fronts, while simultaneously threatening the link between Taiz and Aden. Should this situation solidify, the position of Saudi-backed forces in southwestern Yemen will face a more serious challenge.
The significance of this development becomes even clearer when considering Taiz alongside Yemen’s western coast. As the connection between Sana’a-controlled territories and the Red Sea coast becomes more consolidated, Ansarullah’s position near the Bab al-Mandab—a chokepoint constituting one of the world’s most vital maritime routes—will also be strengthened.
Therefore, the battle for Taiz is not merely a fight over a single city; the core issue is control over a network of roads, high ground, and mountain passes connecting northern Yemen to the country’s west coast and south. Consequently, the outcome of the battle in this province could influence the broader dynamics of the conflict in Yemen and even impact security in the Red Sea. Under these circumstances, Taiz has once again become a pivotal location where developments could alter the balance of power in southwestern Yemen—particularly if Ansar Allah manages to consolidate recent gains and sustain pressure on the supply routes leading to Aden.
Conclusion
The events currently unfolding in Taiz are part of a broader trend within the conflict in Yemen—a trend that began in recent weeks with Ansar Allah’s sweeping advances along the western coast and has now reached one of the country’s most critical southwestern fronts. In September, by capturing the strategic port of Mocha and advancing into coastal areas and islands near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Ansar Allah significantly bolstered its position along the Red Sea. These developments have expanded Ansarullah’s control over key sections of the western coast and strengthened its strategic standing near one of the world’s most vital waterways.
Taiz has now become the next theater of this campaign. The objective goes beyond merely advancing within a single province; by exerting pressure along the southern and western fronts of Taiz, Ansarullah seeks to sever the supply lines connecting Saudi-backed forces to Aden and to link its gains on the West Coast to Yemen’s interior. Reports from today also indicate a sharp escalation in hostilities, the disruption of supply routes, and extensive airstrikes targeting Ansarullah positions.
Thus, when the trends of recent weeks are viewed together, a clear picture emerges of the gradual shift in the balance of power on the ground in Yemen. Ansarullah has evolved from a force based in the northern regions into one capable of extending its operations to the west coast, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the southern fronts, while simultaneously intensifying pressure on the vital supply lines of Saudi-aligned forces. Even Western reports have described these recent advances as one of the most significant military developments in Yemen since the 2022 ceasefire.
In such a context, Taiz could serve as the next stage for consolidating these gains—a theater where Ansarullah seeks further victories and aims to shift the battlefield equation in its favor. The more this force succeeds in pressuring its rival’s supply lines and solidifying its own positions in Taiz, the more precarious the situation will become for Saudi-aligned forces. Consequently, developments in Taiz should be viewed not merely as a local conflict, but as a continuation of a trend that has significantly bolstered Ansarullah’s standing in Yemen’s military landscape over recent weeks.