SANAA, Sep 6 : Fierce clashes between Yemen’s government forces and the Houthi group continued for a third consecutive day on Saturday across the western provinces of Taiz and Hodeidah, with a Houthi ballistic missile strike killing four people and injuring 10 others.
The missile targeted the Hayjat al-Abd road in southern Taiz while passenger vehicles were travelling through the area, destroying a bus and temporarily forcing the closure of the key route, local media reported, citing military officials.
The Hayjat al-Abd road is a strategically important mountainous route connecting Taiz with neighbouring Lahj province and government-controlled areas farther south.
Fighting intensified on several fronts in Taiz and Hodeidah, with both sides reportedly deploying additional troops and military vehicles to the battlefields, according to Yemeni military officials.
Government warplanes conducted at least 15 airstrikes on Friday against Houthi positions, gatherings and vehicles in Taiz and Hodeidah, the officials said.
The strikes came as Houthi forces launched a major offensive towards the Red Sea coast and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a crucial global maritime shipping route.
The latest escalation marks the most intense fighting in Yemen since a fragile truce was reached in 2022.
The renewed government air campaign also represents a significant increase in the use of Yemen's own air power against the Houthis. During the most intense years of the country's conflict, much of the aerial support for anti-Houthi forces was provided by aircraft from the Saudi-led coalition.
