The city of Taiz is rapidly becoming recognized as the most important battleground in Yemen's civil war, pitting Iranian-backed Houthi forces against the internationally recognized Yemeni government. This government, along with a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, has begun military actions to regain control of the city.
The Siege of Taiz and Its Humanitarian Consequences
In recent weeks, Houthi forces have besieged the city by cutting off the main route from Taiz to Aden, leading to widespread population displacement and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. According to Katya Yurich, head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) programs in Aden, the population of Taiz is estimated to be nearly 600,000, and in the latest clashes, 80,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes.
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As the third largest city in Yemen, Taiz has been at the forefront of the battle between the Houthis and the government since the early days of the war in 2015, serving as a base for resistance against the Houthi group. This city is the last main stronghold of anti-Houthi forces in the southern mountainous region of Yemen, and controlling it could significantly alter military equations.
Military Situation and Challenges Ahead
In recent years, the city of Taiz has always been at the forefront of battles, with Houthi forces controlling areas to the north, east, and west of Taiz, while government forces maintain control of the city itself and nearby areas including Jabal Sabir. With the resumption of clashes in recent weeks, the Houthis have made advances towards severing Taiz's connection with Aden, and areas of the road towards Aden have come under their control.
Government forces, supported by airstrikes from the Saudi coalition, are trying to push back the Houthis from their recent advances and reopen the communication route. However, by mid-October, these forces were still struggling to regain territory and had not achieved significant successes.
The Houthi control of Taiz could significantly complicate the government forces' efforts to maintain their counter-offensives around the Bab al-Mandab Strait and would represent a major symbolic defeat for the government and the military coalition of Yemeni forces backed by Saudi Arabia.
Humanitarian Crisis in Taiz
Following recent clashes, at least 121,000 people have been displaced in Taiz province, although many of these individuals are from rural areas outside the city. Residents inside Taiz have reported severe shortages of food and rising prices in the markets. Aid organizations report widespread shortages of fuel, food, medicine, and clean water, and according to the World Food Program, flour reserves in the city are nearly depleted.
The humanitarian conditions in Taiz are extremely concerning, and it seems that the continuation of these conflicts will exacerbate existing health problems. According to UNICEF findings, one in three children in Yemen is malnourished, and pathogenic viruses such as cholera, dengue, and malaria are also prevalent in Yemen.
The battle for Taiz is likely to lead to a prolonged siege similar to past sieges, and if the Houthis attempt to capture the city, local resistance could be very fierce, and any attempt to seize it could result in a bloody and protracted battle.
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