Houthis Close In on Aden, Reshaping Yemen Front
Rebel forces have reached within 80 km of the government's temporary capital, the closest approach since the conflict began in 2015.
By Daniel Rogers ·
The war in Yemen has intensified as rebel forces moved closer to the country's political center. On Monday, four military sources told Reuters that Iran-backed Houthis advanced to within 80 km of Aden.
This position marks the closest the group has come to the city since the early months of the conflict in 2015. At that time, rebels briefly entered Aden before being forced out by government forces.
The new offensive has expanded the regional conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. The development has pulled Saudi Arabia and the Houthis deeper into the fighting. Yemen's government has relied on Saudi support, and the coalition has responded to recent Houthi attacks with increased strikes on rebel positions in Yemen.
The advance threatens the main road connecting Aden to Taiz. This route serves as a vital artery for the southwestern region. The military sources said the push gives the Houthis an opportunity to outflank government troops along the mountain range overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Government forces had previously expelled Houthi fighters from that area only weeks earlier.
Attacks on Aden have also increased in recent weeks. The Houthis struck the city's airport on Wednesday after issuing evacuation warnings. The presidential palace was hit in October. Fighting was ongoing on Monday at a military camp in Tur al-Bahah district, a main approach to Aden. The camp sits about 50 km from Lahj and 80 km from Aden.
Sources said the Houthis launched an assault on Al-Maqatirah three days ago and have since taken the district. They forced government troops to retreat toward Tur al-Bahah. Houthi official Hamid Rizq posted a video of fighters entering Souq al-Rabouh in Maqatirah, though Reuters could not immediately verify the footage. Yemen's information minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, has been encircled since early October. The Houthis cut the main road south to Aden, displacing more than 100,000 people. The siege has led to shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
