On Wednesday, Houthi forces displayed slow advances towards the city of Taiz in southwestern Yemen, during which they fired a missile and an explosive device at Aden Airport, the main international hub of the Saudi-backed government.
Attacks on Aden Airport
The explosive device struck the key airport moments before a plane from Cairo landed. This attack, according to Abda Sharif, the British ambassador to Yemen, could have endangered thousands of lives. This situation led to a rerouting of flights to Jeddah and raised the need to review flight safety in Aden.
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Field Developments in Taiz
Independent observers have stated that there is a risk of the city of Taiz being captured by the Houthis, and signs of a withdrawal of Saudi-backed forces to secure Aden have been observed. Saudi fighter jets are using their air superiority to target any Houthi troop gatherings near the city, especially in the west.
The Houthis have also claimed to have fired missiles at two airports in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh. Saudi officials initially announced that these attacks were repelled, but later stated that three people were killed and 36 were injured.
Impact of the War on Yemen
The Institute for the Study of War has announced that it is revising its previous assessment regarding the collapse of Houthi forces in the coastal plain, given evidence over the past 24 hours indicating that the Houthis have halted the Yemeni government's advances.
Widespread criticism has emerged on social media regarding some claims about the Yemeni government's advances that were made earlier in the week.
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the secret leader of the Houthis, criticized Qatar's Al Jazeera network for its coverage of the Yemen war in a lengthy speech marking the third anniversary of Hamas's attack on Israel. He urged Yemenis to examine Saudi Arabia's role in the Palestinian issue, emphasizing that the official positions of the Saudi regime are not actually in favor of the Palestinian people.
Continued Clashes in Bab al-Mandab
The "Southern Giants" forces, a pro-government militia in Yemen, continue to lead efforts to retake the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow waterway at the southern end of the Red Sea. These forces are now stationed in the military airport area in the Dhubab region near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
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