Yemeni Government Forces Launch Major Offensive to Retake Strategic al-Waziiya District in Taiz

Forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government have initiated a significant military operation aimed at capturing the strategically vital mountainous district of al-Waziiya in Taiz governorate, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict with the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The offensive, launched on Tuesday, represents a critical component of a broader campaign to reclaim the Red Sea coastline and the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a maritime chokepoint of global significance.

The operation falls under the umbrella of “Dawn of Yemen,” a comprehensive offensive announced on Sunday by Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council. Al-Alimi’s stated objective is to retake all remaining Houthi-held territory, including the capital Sanaa, which the Houthis have controlled since 2014. The announcement signals a renewed determination by the Yemeni government and its regional allies to shift the balance of power after years of stalemate.

According to the media center of Yemen’s army, the Homeland Shield Forces—a pro-government military faction—have commenced what they describe as “a large-scale operation” to retake al-Waziiya. The army’s statement, posted on the social media platform X, claimed that armed forces had secured strategic hills overlooking the al-Mansoura area, citing a military source who described a “mass retreat by the Houthi militia.” These claims, however, could not be independently verified, and the Houthis have offered a starkly different account of the situation.

The Houthis denied the government’s assertions, stating that their fighters had successfully repelled the advancing forces in al-Waziiya. Such conflicting claims are common in the Yemeni conflict, where information control and propaganda form part of the broader military strategy. The dueling narratives underscore the difficulty of obtaining accurate battlefield assessments from the mountainous terrain where the fighting is concentrated.

The al-Waziiya district holds considerable strategic value. Located west of Taiz and east of the Red Sea port of Mocha, the mountainous region serves as a gateway to the coast. The Houthis seized Mocha and surrounding areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait last month in a lightning offensive that caught government forces off guard. That advance gave the Houthis control over a critical maritime corridor through which a substantial portion of global commercial shipping passes.

Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry, reporting from Sanaa, emphasized the district’s tactical importance. “These are the mountains that the Houthis took control of prior to the takeover of the city of Mocha,” he explained. “If the Yemeni government is serious about taking over the city of Mocha, they cannot do so unless they take over the region in the district of al-Waziiya.” Mawry’s analysis suggests that al-Waziiya functions as a linchpin for any future government operation to reclaim the Red Sea coast.

The renewed fighting coincides with heightened military activity involving Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen’s government. The Saudi-led coalition announced that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis toward the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait. Major-General Turki al-Maliki, the coalition’s spokesperson, stated that the missile threats originated from Houthi-held Sanaa and the governorates of Saada and Amran.

“The coalition continues to neutralise the threat posed by ballistic and surface-to-surface missiles and to destroy their launch sources,” al-Maliki said, reaffirming the coalition’s commitment to countering Houthi projectile attacks. The interception highlights the persistent danger posed by Houthi missile capabilities to Saudi civilian infrastructure and military installations near the Yemeni border.

Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jazan and Najran Airport, both located near the Yemen border, were struck in attacks that wounded three people. The authority stated that the attacks caused injuries of “varying severity” and material damage, with the wounded transported to hospitals for treatment. The targeting of civilian airports represents a significant escalation in the Houthis’ cross-border campaign.

The Houthis claimed late on Monday that their forces had targeted sites across southern Saudi Arabia, including airports and military installations. The group has repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi territory throughout the conflict, framing them as retaliation for the Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen. These attacks have disrupted civilian life in border regions and strained Saudi air defense systems.

The Saudi-led coalition has confirmed its direct participation in the Yemeni government’s offensive, stating that 100 of its fighter jets are providing air support for the operation to retake all Houthi-held territory. This level of aerial backing significantly enhances the government’s capacity to advance on the ground, though the Houthis have proven resilient against air power throughout the war.

In a further development that could alter the conflict’s trajectory, Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to activate “deterrence measures” under their mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia. The agreement includes plans to rapidly deploy forces to the Gulf kingdom to counter Houthi attacks. The involvement of these two significant military powers could provide Saudi Arabia with additional defensive depth and signal broader international concern over Houthi aggression.

The humanitarian implications of the renewed offensive are profound. Taiz governorate has been a focal point of fighting for years, with civilians enduring severe hardships, including restricted access to food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. Any escalation in al-Waziiya and the surrounding areas risks further displacement and suffering for local populations already devastated by nearly a decade of conflict.

Regional analysts suggest that the “Dawn of Yemen” offensive reflects a calculated decision by the Yemeni government and its allies to capitalize on shifting regional dynamics. With international attention focused on other crises, the coalition may see an opportunity to make territorial gains before diplomatic efforts resume. However, the Houthis’ demonstrated military capacity and their control over Sanaa and other key population centers make the complete reconquest of Yemen an immense challenge.

The battle for al-Waziiya, therefore, is not merely a local engagement but a bellwether for the broader direction of the war. If government forces succeed in capturing the district, they will gain a foothold to advance on Mocha and potentially threaten Houthi positions along the Red Sea. If they fail, the Houthis will consolidate their recent gains and further entrench their control over Yemen’s most strategic maritime access points, complicating any future peace negotiations and raising the stakes for regional stability.