As the United States and Israel prepare to launch a comprehensive operation against the Houthis, the Arab coalition, backed by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has initiated a military offensive in the city of Taiz, located in southwestern Yemen.
In a statement issued by the Taiz Military Unit affiliated with the Arab coalition, it was reported that eight Houthi fighters were killed during an attack on a position held by army forces in the air defense front, northwest of the city center. Additionally, the statement noted that 15 Houthi personnel were wounded, while no details were provided regarding casualties on the side of the army units.
A subsequent statement released by the army yesterday claimed that the Houthi attack on the same front had been successfully repelled.
The city of Taiz holds strategic importance due to its location along a key road connecting it to the southern provinces, including Aden. The Houthis have maintained control over the capital Sanaa and several other regions since September 2014. In response, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition has supported the Yemeni government against the Houthis since March 2015.
With the withdrawal of Hezbollah from the conflict following a ceasefire, the overthrow of the Assad administration in Syria, and the decision by Iraqi militia forces to cease attacks on Israel, the Houthis remain the only group actively targeting Israel as a response to the violence in Gaza. In this context, both Israel and the United States are reportedly preparing for a large-scale operation against the Houthis, targeting their positions intermittently.
The Houthis, in turn, have escalated their threats, warning of potential strikes on U.S. targets in the Middle East if military operations in Yemen persist. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the group’s Supreme Political Council, declared in a video posted on his X account (formerly Twitter):
“We warn the Americans not to target Yemen. Otherwise, we will attack American interests in the Middle East regardless of any red lines.”
He further stated:
“Either Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Yemen will stop, or we will target sensitive American targets that can ‘convey our message.’”
