Yemeni government claims gains in Taiz and near Bab al-Mandeb as fighting continues
Yemeni government forces say they have made fresh battlefield gains in southwestern Yemen, including in areas near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait. On Tuesday, pro-government units claimed they seized Mount Qarafan in southern Taiz province's al-Shamayatayn district and captured Mount Zalat near Kahboub. They also said they repelled a Houthi infiltration attempt on the Kahboub front, which overlooks Bab al-Mandeb.
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According to the military account, five Houthi fighters were killed and 20 others were injured in the operation. The pro-government Homeland Shield Forces, also known by their Arabic name Quwat Dira' al-Watan, were said to have taken part in the fighting. The claims have not been independently verified in the supplied material.
The reported advances come after the Yemeni government suffered a significant setback earlier this month when it lost the country's Red Sea coast to Houthi rebels. Officials are now pursuing both military and diplomatic efforts to stop the group from consolidating those gains and pushing further into government-held territory. The fighting in the mountainous southwest is significant because control of high ground can shape access to valleys and coastal routes.
Mount Qarafan is described as overlooking valleys that link southern Taiz with western coastal areas, while Kahboub is seen as important because of its position above Bab al-Mandeb. That strait is one of the most sensitive maritime chokepoints in the region, and the contest for nearby terrain has wider implications for movement along Yemen's western approaches. The government's effort to regain ground also reflects the broader struggle for control in a conflict that has repeatedly shifted between front lines and political tracks.
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The latest clashes also come against a worsening humanitarian backdrop. The International Organization for Migration says recent hostilities have displaced about 132,000 people, including 75,000 in Taiz alone. That displacement adds pressure to communities already affected by years of conflict and makes any change in the front line more consequential for civilians.
At the same time, Yemeni officials are trying to build international support for their campaign against the Houthis at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Presidential Leadership Council member Abdullah al-Alimi is leading the delegation and is due to address the assembly later this week, while Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba has called for the disarmament of non-state armed groups on the sidelines. It remains unclear whether the reported gains will hold, whether the Houthis will counterattack, or whether the diplomatic push will translate into concrete backing in the coming days.
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