Yemeni Government Forces Report Military Gains Against Houthis Amid Escalating Conflict

Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced on September 6, 2026, that its forces have made significant gains against the Houthis as fighting has escalated in recent weeks. The government reported recapturing strategically located territory in Hodeidah province and advancing in western Taiz. Despite these advances, the situation does not yet indicate a decisive shift in the ongoing conflict. The Iran-aligned Houthis continue to control the capital, Sanaa, and several other cities, and have recently made advances around Taiz, threatening the government-held port of al-Makha (Mocha) and areas near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint. The fighting is occurring amid a broader regional conflict involving Saudi Arabia, a key supporter of the Yemeni government, which has conducted air strikes against Houthi positions. Clashes have intensified in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces, with the SABA news agency reporting that Yemeni military forces took control of Hais district in Hodeidah, a strategic location at the junction of Hodeidah, Taiz, and Ibb provinces. Government forces have also reportedly regained areas around the al-Barh junction in western Taiz. The Yemeni Information Ministry official, Fayad al-Numan, stated that government forces captured dozens of Houthi fighters during clashes in al-Jarahi district in southern Hodeidah. Reports indicate that over 60 people, including civilians, were killed in clashes in Taiz on Saturday. Fighting resumed on Thursday when Houthi forces launched a major offensive along front lines in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah, utilizing ballistic missiles, drones, and artillery. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that approximately 1,800 families have been displaced in the past two days due to the escalating conflict. The Yemeni government has regained control over significant southern and eastern territories following a Saudi-backed counteroffensive and aims to unify Yemen under one administration. However, the Houthis have pushed towards government-held areas near al-Makha and the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The recent escalation follows a period of relative calm since a UN-brokered truce in April 2022, which had ended major fighting since the Houthis captured much of Yemen, including Sanaa, in 2014. The capture of Hais is seen as potentially significant due to its strategic location, while advances around al-Barh may aid government forces in countering Houthi advances in western Taiz. Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi stated that Yemen’s armed forces are capable of restoring control over the entire country, cautioning that Houthi miscalculations could lead to their collapse. However, it remains too early to determine if these developments signify a substantial shift in control. The Houthis had previously seized positions near Taiz before the government counteroffensive. The ongoing conflict is increasingly linked to the broader regional tensions involving the US-Israel conflict with Iran, as the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in July and targeted Saudi ships. The Bab al-Mandeb strait has gained importance following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has contributed to a global energy crisis. In July, Saudi Arabia initiated a mission to form an international alliance to protect the Red Sea from attacks by Iran-backed Houthis.