Yemeni forces say Houthi attack repelled in Taiz amid escalation | Houthis News
Military Escalation Continues in Yemen as Government Forces Target Houthi Positions
Published August 13, 2026
Yemeni government forces have successfully repelled an attack by Houthi militants at the al-Mafalis front, located to the south of Haifan in the southeastern region of Taiz province. This confrontation is part of a broader military escalation that has intensified across various governorates in recent days.
An official from the Tor al-Bahah military axis, aligned with government troops, reported on Thursday that the army’s 4th Infantry Hashd Brigade thwarted a Houthi offensive. The official claimed the Houthis incurred substantial losses during the engagement.
The official further noted that a coordinated military and security operation in Tor al-Bahah aims to counteract Houthi attacks, asserting that the militia would face defeat. Waddah al-Dubeish, a spokesman for the government forces, stated that air defense units had intercepted Houthi reconnaissance drones over the southwestern city of al-Makha (Mocha).
On August 10, damage was reported in al-Makha following strikes attributed to Houthi forces, signaling ongoing conflict in the area.
The Yemeni government announced on Wednesday that it had conducted artillery shelling and drone strikes against Houthi positions across multiple fronts, resulting in casualties among Houthi fighters. Reports from Yemeni state television indicated that significant military actions targeted Houthi gatherings around the al-Fakhir market in northern al-Dhalea Governorate.
Fayyad al-Numan, Yemen’s deputy minister of information, confirmed that extensive shelling was executed against Houthi positions using heavy artillery and drone strikes.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, emphasized that future actions by Houthi forces would prompt a decisive response from the government. He expressed disinterest in pursuing new truces that mirror past failures, instead advocating for a sustainable peace that recognizes the state’s authority over weapons and sovereignty.
Al-Alimi also underscored the importance of disarmament, inviting the opposition to participate in nation-building efforts.
Since April 2022, Yemen has experienced a degree of de-escalation in the conflict between government forces and the Houthis. However, clashes have reignited since early July, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries on both sides.
