How significant are the Yemeni government’s military gains against Houthis?

What the report says

Yemen’s internationally recognised government says its forces have recently made important battlefield gains against the Houthis, but Al Jazeera reports that the developments do not yet amount to a decisive change in the long-running war. The fighting has intensified in recent weeks, especially in the western provinces of Taiz and Hodeidah, raising concern that the country could slide back into full-scale conflict after a period of relative calm.

According to the article, government-aligned forces said they recaptured territory in Hodeidah province, including the Hais district, and advanced around the al-Barh junction in western Taiz. Officials also said dozens of Houthi fighters were captured in clashes in al-Jarahi district. The Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa and other major areas, have also been pushing near Taiz and toward the government-held port of al-Makha, close to the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The renewed fighting has come with heavy casualties and displacement. Al Jazeera cited reports of more than 60 people killed in clashes in Taiz, including civilians, while the UN humanitarian office said about 1,800 families were displaced over two days. The article said the escalation began after clashes on Thursday and followed months of renewed fighting since August.

The story places the clashes in a wider regional context, noting Saudi Arabia’s support for the Yemeni government and its recent air strikes on Houthi positions. Bab al-Mandeb is significant because it is a key shipping chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, so fighting there carries broader economic and security implications.