Houthis seize key districts leading to strategic mountain overlooking Taiz
By
Yousef Mawry
Reporting from Sanaa, Yemen
Fighting in Taiz has intensified in recent days as Houthi forces try to encircle the city. They have captured some of the districts leading to Jebel Sabar – the mountain that overlooks the city – and which puts the Houthis in an elevated position to monitor roads and incoming military traffic. Taking the mountain would give them a strategic military advantage to take over the city, without needing a ground presence in the city itself.
According to reports, the fighting has mainly been in the southwestern part of the city, where government forces have been trying to reclaim territory. They have also had Saudi air support, which has bombarded Houthi positions in southwestern Taiz.
The UN says that the humanitarian situation in the city is deteriorating day by day, as food and medical supplies are prevented from entering by the deteriorating conditions. The UN warned there is very little flour and wheat left; cooking gas is hard to find and fuel prices are increasing.
The Houthis have reportedly called on government forces in Taiz to peacefully surrender, but clashes are still taking place. If government forces lose control of Taiz, it will be a major backbreaker, because Taiz is considered a major stronghold for the government in the country’s south.
Man looking pretty good on that one sided bet looking like Al Jazeera is about to call it for the Houthis in this round of fighting
