Yemen fighting widens as government forces push back Houthi positions

Yemen’s war has spread across several fronts as internationally recognized government forces launch a broad counteroffensive against the Houthis. In Al-Jawf, troops reportedly breached the group’s first defensive line, captured positions in Lower Al-Lubnat and seized a Houthi training camp.

The forces then advanced through Upper Al-Lubnat, surrounded the main Al-Lubnat military camp and cut several Houthi supply routes. More recent reporting confirmed that the camp had been captured, with government units moving beyond the two Al-Lubnat areas toward the Houthi defensive belt around Al-Hazm.

The camp holds strategic importance because it lies on the approaches to Al-Hazm and has served as a longstanding Houthi military base. It has changed hands several times during the war and remained under Houthi control since 2020. Its capture could open a route toward the provincial capital and force the Houthis to shift forces from western fronts.

Fighting has also intensified in Taiz and Hodeidah. Government forces said they recaptured positions around Al-Kadha and Al-Barh, repelled Houthi infiltration attempts and retook Hays, a district linking Hodeidah with Taiz and Ibb. The government military media center said more than 20 Houthi fighters were killed or wounded.

Yemeni military officials said aircraft struck Houthi positions, vehicles, missile sites and gatherings in Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Marib, Taiz and Hodeidah. The army reported 13 strikes in Al-Bayda alone on Monday. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the group had shot down several Saudi reconnaissance drones, including CH-4 and Wing Loong II aircraft. The latest escalation follows a Houthi push toward the Taiz-Mokha road and approaches to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, prompting coordinated government ground operations, artillery fire and sustained airstrikes.