Yemen's leader announces counter-offensive against Houthis as Taiz supply route cut
Rashad al-Alimi announced a major military operation to retake Houthi-held territory on Sunday, hours after Houthi fighters cut the vital Taiz–Aden supply road and encircled Taiz, four security sources told AFP.
The leader of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced the beginning of a major military operation against the Iran-backed Houthis on Sunday, aimed at recapturing territory under their control, France 24 reported.
The announcement came as Houthi forces cut off a vital supply route linking Taiz with Aden, the interim capital of the internationally recognised government, according to four security sources cited by AFP.
“We were informed that the Houthis had taken control of the al-Safiya area, where they cut the main road and took control of the police station,” a police source in the area told AFP. Three sources with the Yemeni military confirmed Houthi control over the area and supply route, with the group effectively encircling Taiz city. Fighting in the area is ongoing.
Taiz city itself remains under government control but has long been besieged from the north, east and west by Houthi fighters. “They’ve achieved the military objective of isolating Taiz from Aden, even if they haven’t fully taken control of it,” Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at the Chatham House think tank, told AFP.
Elsewhere in Yemen, the Houthis’ Al-Masirah TV channel reported Saudi strikes in the northern governorates of al-Jawf and Saada, saying at least two people had been wounded — a day after Yemen’s government said its forces hit Houthi targets in the capital Sanaa, Saada and near Taiz.
The escalation follows weeks of heavy fighting. Yemen’s war reignited in July after several years of relative calm, and in September the Houthis seized the entire Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Sources
- France 24 (via Asha News) — “Yemen’s leader announces counter-offensive as Houthis cut off supply route to besieged city” — https://asha.news/article/e9250004-6217-4131-978b-fcaf85e477c7
- AFP (via Malay Mail) — “Houthis cut Yemen’s Taiz off from Aden in major battlefield gain” — https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/04/houthis-cut-yemens-taiz-off-from-aden-in-major-battlefield-gain/237693
- AFP (via Free Malaysia Today) — “Houthis cut vital supply road to Yemen’s Taiz” — https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/04/houthis-cut-vital-supply-road-to-yemen-s-taiz
- Khaleej Times — “Yemen govt leader announces military operations against Houthis to seize territory” — https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/mena/yemen-leader-military-operations-houthis-seize-territory
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