Yemen’s civil war is intensifying around Taiz as Iran-backed Houthi rebels tighten their siege of the strategically important city, threatening government control and deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, has become a critical battleground between Houthi forces and the internationally recognized government supported by a Saudi-led military coalition. Recent Houthi advances have severed the main road connecting Taiz to Aden, disrupting essential supplies and forcing thousands of residents to flee.
The city, home to approximately 600,000 people, represents the last major anti-Houthi urban stronghold in Yemen’s southern highlands. Its location overlooking routes toward Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait makes it strategically significant for both sides.
A Houthi victory could weaken government military operations near Bab el-Mandeb, a crucial maritime passage linking the Red Sea to international shipping routes. It would also represent a major political and military setback for Saudi-backed forces.
Since Yemen’s conflict resumed this summer following a four-year truce, Houthi fighters have captured territory south of Jebel Sabar, including sections of the Aden road near al-Turbah and Mudiriyat al-Misrakh.
Government troops, supported by Saudi airstrikes, are attempting to recover lost positions and restore access to the city. However, Houthi forces continued advancing around Taiz in mid-October.
Taiz has historically resisted Houthi control, partly because of its predominantly Sunni population and its prominent role in Yemen’s 2011 Arab Spring protests. The city previously endured years of fighting, shelling and severe shortages during the earlier stages of the civil war.
The renewed siege has triggered widespread displacement. According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 121,000 people have been displaced across Taiz province, including approximately 80,000 who fled the city.
Humanitarian organizations warn that shortages of food, fuel, medicine and clean water are worsening. The World Food Programme reported that wheat flour supplies were nearly depleted by mid-October, while rising market prices have increased pressure on residents.
Malnutrition and infectious diseases, including cholera, dengue and malaria, further threaten vulnerable communities.
With Houthi forces consolidating their positions and government troops struggling to regain territory, Taiz faces the possibility of another prolonged siege or a devastating urban battle that could significantly reshape Yemen’s civil war.
