The Iran-backed Houthi movement continues to engage in intense fighting across southern Yemen, particularly in mountainous areas near Aden and Taiz, while maintaining frequent missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. Recent clashes follow a series of Houthi advances as the group seeks to control strategically significant terrain that could impact regional security dynamics.
On Friday, Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a Houthi-launched drone over the Makkah region, highlighting the ongoing threat the group poses to Saudi infrastructure. The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have targeted airports, energy facilities, and urban centers in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks amid escalating hostilities.
In Yemen, fierce battles have erupted in the Al-Maqatira district of Lahj governorate, located near the mountain ranges north of Aden. Local sources reported that the Houthis launched a large-scale offensive to seize government positions in this area, which serves as a critical gateway toward controlling key mountain forts and transportation routes. The group aims to capture the Maqatirah Tunnel and the Al-Maqatirah fortress, as well as the Al-Rubu’ market at the Heijah Al-Abd valley. This market sits along the principal road connecting Taiz to Aden, making it a vital logistical point.
Fighting has also intensified near the Haifan front, where the militants are attempting to reach Mount An’an, which overlooks a broad area between Haifan and Al-Maqatirah. These mountainous battle zones, located approximately 40 to 50 miles from Aden, hold significant strategic implications. Control of these areas could shape future military operations and influence calculations in regional capitals including Tehran, Riyadh, Doha, and Washington.
The Houthis have continued to expand their military capabilities with Iranian support, developing missile and drone arsenals that enable attacks deep into Saudi territory and, more recently, strikes on Israel. Following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, the Houthis began launching missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. This escalation prompted retaliatory strikes by Israel, the United States, and Britain. The conflict further intensified in 2026 during the war between Israel and Iran.
Since July, the Houthis have renewed their offensive against Saudi targets and shipping routes. In September 2025, the group captured the port city of Mocha and advanced toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint for global maritime trade linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Control over this strait enhances the Houthis’ regional influence amid the ongoing civil war in Yemen, which has long been a proxy battleground involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other regional actors.
Clashes around Taiz have escalated as the Houthis seek to sever the key supply road between the city and Aden, intensifying their siege. The group’s tightening control over Taiz—Yemen’s third-largest city—has drawn international condemnation, particularly for their detention of United Nations personnel. According to reports, the Houthis are currently holding 71 UN staff members, severely restricting humanitarian operations in territory they control.
The humanitarian situation in Taiz has deteriorated sharply, with more than 800,000 residents cut off from essential supplies due to the siege. The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that nearly 75% of the affected population rely on external aid, which has become increasingly difficult to deliver.
Fighting since the beginning of September 2025 reflects a renewed and multi-pronged Houthi offensive targeting western coastal areas, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Taiz region, resulting in thousands of casualties. Despite a decade of conflict that has devastated Yemen, the Houthis remain a formidable force, shaping both the local war and broader regional security concerns.