Saudi-backed Yemeni forces secure key road between Aden and Taiz

Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces said Thursday they had secured a key road linking the southern port city of Aden with Taiz after repelling an overnight Houthi attack that authorities said aimed to disrupt traffic along the route.

Houthi fighters tried to infiltrate positions near Wadi Al-Maqatrah in the Hayfan area near the Hejat al-Abd mountain pass, the forces said. Government forces said they had forced the attackers to withdraw and secured the road.

The road is a vital artery for civilian and commercial movement between Aden, Lahj and Taiz and a key supply line for government forces. It is also a conduit for goods into Taiz and the surrounding area, Reuters reported.

Yemeni military officials say the fighting is part of recent attempts by the Houthis to gain ground along the Taiz front and threaten key roads. There was no immediate response from the Houthis regarding the government’s claim.

The latest fighting comes as clashes surge in southwestern Yemen, where government-aligned forces and Houthi fighters are fighting for strategic positions along the Red Sea coast and around Taiz.