Fighting intensifies in Yemen's Taiz as UN says nearly 260,000 displaced

Fighting intensified in Yemen's Taiz province on Wednesday between forces loyal to the internationally recognised government and the Houthi armed group, as the United Nations warned that nearly 260,000 people have been displaced since August.

Government spokesperson Majid al-Nazili said his forces launched 835 targeting operations against the Houthis, killing or injuring 285 fighters and destroying battle tanks and weapons stores. Heavy clashes were reported in the strategic Jabal Han highlands, which overlook routes to the government's Aden base, as well as in the Dhubab and al-Masrakh districts. A military source told Al Jazeera that air raids also struck Houthi gatherings and infrastructure in the Maafar directorate south of Taiz.

The defence ministry warned civilians in Houthi-held areas to avoid rallies and "cultural courses," declaring them legitimate military targets and accusing the Houthis of using such events to recruit children.

Displacement and civilian toll The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said almost 260,000 people have been displaced since August, with about half seeking refuge in Taiz where fighting is concentrated. The UN Human Rights Office verified 251 civilian casualties, including 57 killed and 194 injured; half of those killed were children. Humanitarian partners have reached more than 174,000 displaced people — nearly six in ten households — with food, hygiene kits and emergency cash. Newly displaced families say their most pressing needs are shelter, food and cash.

Regional escalation The latest violence comes as government forces press the "Dawn of Yemen" counteroffensive launched earlier this month to retake Houthi-held areas, including the capital Sanaa, with Saudi-led coalition support. The operation followed a Houthi blockade on Saudi ports in the Bab al-Mandeb strait in July and rapid Houthi gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast. Houthi forces have also struck targets in Saudi Arabia; the kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority said the death toll rose to two after a Wednesday evening strike on King Fahd airport in Dammam. The US State Department ordered non-essential embassy staff and families to leave Riyadh, warning that hostilities could escalate rapidly.

Yemeni government forces accused the Houthis of striking Aden and al-Rayyan airports on Wednesday. Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad Al-Alimi condemned the attacks and urged the international community to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organisation. Yemen's Ministry of Education said more than 2.5 million children are out of school because of the conflict.

The war began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa, prompting Saudi-led intervention in 2015. A 2022 UN-brokered truce collapsed in July. The Houthis control much of northern and western Yemen, while government forces and allies hold Aden and large parts of the south and east.

Source: Al Jazeera.