Yemeni army says it foiled major Houthi attack

• Military aircraft carried out six strikes targeting Houthi positions and vehicles in southern Taiz, the army said.
• The military reported fighting on several fronts and said Houthi forces suffered casualties, without providing figures.
• The Houthis did not immediately comment on the reports.

Yemen's army said on Thursday it had foiled a major attack by the Houthi group across several fronts in the southwestern provinces of Taiz and Lahj, while military aircraft carried out strikes against Houthi positions and vehicles.

The announcement came in an urgent statement by the Tor al-Baha military axis, which said its forces had "foiled a large-scale Houthi attack" across its fronts and destroyed the attacking formations, without providing details on the size of the assault or casualties.

In a separate brief statement, the military axis said warplanes had carried out six strikes against Houthi positions and vehicles in the Al-Akboush, Al-Ahkoum and Haifan fronts in southern Taiz.

The Taiz military axis separately said government forces were engaged in heavy fighting in Bani Bakari in Jabal Habashi district, the Hameer front in Maqbanah district and the Al-Aqroud front southeast of Taiz.

It said Houthi forces had suffered losses in personnel and equipment but provided no figures.

The Houthis did not immediately comment on the statements.

Background

The developments followed military clashes between government forces and the Houthis on several fronts, including Taiz, Lahj, Marib, Al-Jawf and Al-Bayda. The military has said it carried out hundreds of strikes against Houthi positions and personnel.

The Houthis, meanwhile, have reported dozens of airstrikes and missile attacks on areas under their control.

The escalation came as a military meeting was held in the interim capital Aden to discuss strengthening readiness and implementing directives from Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi on general mobilization.

Saudi Arabia also announced on Wednesday its full support for the Yemeni government in extending its authority across the country and restoring stability.

The fighting is part of a military escalation that began in early July and has been described in the report as the most extensive since the period of relative calm that followed a 2022 truce.

Fighting intensified in September, with the Houthis reportedly taking control of several strategic positions in Hudaydah and Taiz provinces, including the city of Mocha and reaching Mayyun Island overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait.