Houthis gaining ground in Yemen

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 6, 2026

The Houthi movement captured the strategic town of Turbah in southwestern Yemen, further encircling the government-held city of Taiz and complicating government supply lines. In response, Yemen’s government launched a major military campaign backed by Saudi Arabia to retake lost territory and counter Houthi advances, signaling a sharp escalation in the country’s civil war.

The Iran-backed Houthi movement has expanded its territorial control in southwestern Yemen by seizing the town of Turbah, marking a significant setback for Saudi-backed government forces. The capture occurred on Sunday, shortly before Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced a large-scale military operation aimed at reclaiming territory from the rebels.

Turbah holds strategic importance as it lies on a key roadway connecting the provincial capital of Taiz with the port city of Aden, which currently serves as the interim seat of Yemen’s government. The town has long been a critical defensive position for government troops protecting Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, from Houthi advances. Recent operations by the Houthis had already resulted in control over several villages around Taiz, effectively encircling the city.

The Houthis have maintained momentum following their early September offensive along Yemen’s western Red Sea coast, during which they captured the strategic port city of Mokha and multiple islands in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Control over this maritime chokepoint is significant given that approximately 12% of global trade passes through it.

In response to these developments, the Yemeni government mobilized its forces across areas under its control. Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, outlined the objective of regaining Houthi-held territory in a televised address on Sunday. Al-Alimi also called on the international community for support in the ongoing conflict. Shortly after, Saudi Arabia pledged “full operational support” to Yemeni government forces, with Saudi military spokesman Maj Gen Turki al-Malki emphasizing the kingdom’s commitment to countering continued Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory. Al-Malki underscored Saudi Arabia’s right to take necessary measures in response to the nearly three-month escalation that has reignited Yemen’s civil war.

On Monday, factions aligned with the Saudi-backed coalition launched offensives aimed at recapturing recently lost territory along Yemen’s coast. Government forces attacked Houthi positions in Dhubab, a town strategically located on the coast near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to Col Majed al-Nazili, spokesperson for the pro-government forces. The Giants Brigades, a prominent Yemeni militia allied with the government, also announced the commencement of a “decisive military operation” against the Houthis in the same area.

Al-Alimi further detailed the launch of the military campaign, dubbed “Yemen Dawn,” on social media. The campaign aims to restore Yemen’s state institutions, liberate Sanaa—the Houthi-controlled capital—and dismantle what the government describes as the “Houthi terrorist militia coup.”

Analysts from the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted that the loss of Turbah will likely restrict the Yemeni government’s capacity to reinforce and supply combat positions around Taiz. They highlighted that beyond the tactical advantage of disrupting supply lines, control over routes north of Turbah also impedes government forces’ ability to withdraw from the city.

The renewed fighting marks a severe escalation following a four-year ceasefire, with the battle for territorial control shaping the trajectory of Yemen’s long-running conflict.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.