Aden, Yemen, Sep 2026 : At least 25 people were killed and several others wounded on Thursday as intense fighting erupted between Yemeni government forces and Houthi fighters in southwestern Taiz province, according to a government military official.
The clashes began at dawn after Houthi fighters launched a large-scale assault on government positions in the villages of Maqbanah and Al-Kadha, the official said. Fifteen government soldiers and 10 Houthi members were killed in the fighting, which involved artillery, mortars and other heavy weapons.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Houthis initially managed to capture several government positions. However, government forces subsequently brought in reinforcements and launched a counterattack, recapturing some of the ground lost during the initial assault.
The renewed fighting also triggered fresh displacement in the area, residents told Xinhua. Several families were forced to leave their homes and move towards safer locations as Houthi artillery shelling intensified across the affected areas.
The escalation on the ground coincided with missile and drone attacks reported across western Yemen. Government forces said the Houthis had fired 14 ballistic missiles and launched a series of drone attacks targeting areas along the western coasts of Taiz and neighbouring Hodeidah province over several hours on Thursday.
Government air defence units reportedly intercepted and destroyed several of the drones. The Houthis had not issued an immediate response to the government's claims regarding the missile and drone attacks or the fighting in Taiz.
The latest clashes come amid a broader increase in military activity between the two sides across several fronts in Yemen. Government forces have intensified drone and artillery strikes against Houthi positions in recent weeks, while the Houthi group has continued launching missile and drone attacks against government-held areas, including parts of Marib and locations along the western Red Sea coast.
The situation has also raised concerns over security around strategically important maritime routes. On Monday, Yemeni government forces said they had intercepted four boats loaded with explosives that were allegedly operated by the Houthis and were attempting to approach government-held islands near international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
State-run Saba news agency, citing a military source, reported that the boats were intercepted while attempting to approach the strategic Hanish Islands and Zuqar Island. The islands overlook important international shipping routes in the southern Red Sea.
According to the military source, government naval forces detected further movements by Houthi boats at different times on Sunday and Monday as they attempted to approach the islands. The reported activity has added to concerns over potential threats to maritime traffic in a region that remains strategically important for international shipping.
The latest violence highlights the fragile security situation in Yemen, where government forces and the Houthis continue to confront each other despite periods of reduced hostilities. The recent intensification of fighting, coupled with missile, drone and maritime activity, has added to pressure on communities already affected by years of conflict.
With clashes continuing across multiple fronts, the latest developments in Taiz and along the western coast are likely to further complicate efforts to maintain stability and reduce military tensions in Yemen.
