Why is fighting intensifying in Yemen’s Taiz governorate?
Summary
Yemen’s government and the Iran-backed Houthis are fighting for control of the Taiz governorate, a key area in the southwest of Yemen. The government has launched a major offensive to take back land from the Houthis, who recently captured important coastal regions including the port city of Mocha and the Bab al-Mandeb strait.Key Facts
- Taiz governorate is Yemen’s most populous area, with about 4.5 million people.
- The coastal parts, captured by the Houthis in September, include important locations for shipping and supply routes.
- Controlling Taiz is vital because it connects the Houthi-controlled north with the government-held south.
- Taiz City, controlled by the government, is surrounded by mountains and is strategically important.
- The Houthis aim to strengthen control over the Red Sea coast and isolate government-held areas like Aden.
- Fighting has focused on a mountain west of Taiz City, which is key to controlling access to the city.
- The battle has no clear winner yet, with both sides using heavy weapons and air strikes.
- Thousands of civilians have died in the ongoing conflict around Taiz since 2014.
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