Yemeni Forces Pursue Houthis Southeast of Hodeidah After Retaking Hays

Yemeni government forces have shifted from containing a Houthi offensive to pursuing the group’s fighters southeast of Hodeidah, after announcing the complete liberation of Hays district.

The escalation along Yemen’s west coast and in Taiz entered its fourth day on Sunday. Field sources said government and joint forces captured dozens of Houthis during the fighting, many of them underage. The forces also continued moving north of Hays toward al-Garrahi.

The advance on al-Garrahi carries wider military significance for the government forces. Capturing the district would open a route toward Houthi-held Hodeidah and cut the connection between the province and Ibb and the Tihamah regions. The Houthis have been regrouping to counter the advance from Hays toward southeastern Hodeidah, the field sources said.

The recapture of Hays followed a government counteroffensive and included rural areas that had remained under Houthi control for years. Government forces had retaken the district center in 2018, but the latest operation completed their control of the area.

Fighting also continued on the Jabal Habashi front in western Taiz, especially around al-Kadha. Houthi forces made a field breakthrough there, threatening the main supply road linking Taiz city with the coastal city of Mokha. Government forces are reassessing their positions, preparing to retake the captured sites, stabilize defensive lines and prevent further Houthi advances. They also advanced on the Haifan front in southeastern Taiz, which overlooks Houthi supply routes toward northwestern Lahj and southern Taiz.

Local sources said the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at civilian facilities on Sunday without causing casualties. Sniper attacks in residential areas of western Taiz wounded a woman and three children in al-Kadha and Rahba.