Most Violent in Years: Houthi Offensive Cuts Road Between Taiz and Aden

Residents in government-controlled areas of Taiz governorate said on Thursday that Houthi militias have been launching a wide-scale offensive against the province since last night, describing it as the most violent in years. This attack coincided with an act of sabotage that led to the closure of the only road connecting the governorate to government-controlled areas in southern Yemen.

The residents clarified that government-controlled areas in the governorate, including the city of Taiz, have been subjected to unprecedented shelling and attacks across various fronts since last night. Residents in government-controlled areas of Taiz governorate said on Thursday that Houthi militias have been launching a wide-scale offensive against the province since last night, describing it as the most violent in years. This attack coincided with an act of sabotage that led to the closure of the only road connecting the governorate to government-controlled areas in southern Yemen.

The residents clarified that government-controlled areas in the governorate, including the city of Taiz, have been subjected to unprecedented shelling and attacks across various fronts since last night.

According to residents, an armed group affiliated with Houthi militias infiltrated the Hijayat Al-Abd road, the only remaining route connecting the governorate to the government headquarters in Aden in the south, and detonated a culvert for crossing floodwaters, causing its closure.

Sources stated that the road requires urgent intervention to repair the damage before residents and cargo trucks can use it again.

Military sources said that the violent and unprecedented clashes included various combat fronts from Sami district, through Al-Hakoum area belonging to Haifan district, and Bani Omar and Rasn areas in Al-Shamaitein district, reaching Jabal Habshi and Maqbanah districts, in addition to Al-Kadha and Al-Dhabab areas in Al-Mafer district, and the eastern front of the city of Taiz.

Sources reported that the Houthis bombarded those areas with dozens of shells, confirming they lived through a night they described as terrifying, with intensified shelling on neighborhoods, residential gatherings, and villages.

Residents in those neighborhoods said fragments and parts of projectiles flew over rooftops, while some were forced to turn off lights inside their homes for fear of being targeted.

These developments coincide with the Ministry of Interior's announcement of arresting several cells and elements linked to Houthi militias in various governorates, monitoring suspicious movements, communications, and meetings, as well as attempts at smuggling, gathering information, recruiting elements, and facilitating activities targeting security and stability.

The ministry noted that specialized security agencies observed other methods used by the militias to circumvent security measures, including exploiting telecommunications networks and forcing some residents in areas under their control to contact relatives and acquaintances in liberated governorates to obtain information or pass messages and requests serving their destructive plans.