Yemeni forces strike Houthi positions west of Taiz as fighting escalates

TAIZ, Sept 28: Yemeni government forces bombed Houthi positions west of Taiz on Monday as fighting continued to intensify in southwestern Yemen, according to the Taiz Military Axis media center.

The media center said airstrikes targeted Houthi sites in the Al-Rubaie area, west of Taiz. It did not immediately provide details on casualties or damage, while the Houthis had not commented on the attack.

Yemeni government forces said on Sunday that they had also targeted Houthi gatherings and positions in Taiz, Lahij and Al-Dhalea.

Yemen has remained embroiled in conflict since the Houthis seized Sanaa and several provinces in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

Fighting intensified in September, with the Houthis taking control of several key areas in Al-Hudaydah and Taiz provinces, including the strategic city of Mokha, and reaching Mayyun Island overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.