The key facts

  • The Yemeni army reported an advance in Marib and the capture of Houthi strategic positions
  • More than 430 Houthi fighters were said to be neutralized and over 100 pieces of equipment destroyed within 24 hours
  • Earlier on Friday, the army reported repelling a Houthi attack on Taiz, with at least 16 fighters killed

Advance in Marib

The Yemeni army announced on Friday new successes on the eastern front in Marib governorate. According to the military statement, forces expanded their penetration into Houthi positions and took control of several strategic sites. The army also said it continues to exert military pressure on the Houthis and wear down their forces on the southern and western fronts, but did not specify the newly captured positions in those directions.

Casualty Figures

The military said that within 24 hours it neutralized more than 430 Houthi fighters, and also destroyed or disabled more than 100 military vehicles and facilities. These figures come from the army, and the publication contains no independent confirmation.

Strikes in the Taiz Area

The army's Taiz military sector said in Facebook posts that its aviation carried out three airstrikes on Houthi positions at the al-Khangar checkpoint and the al-Maqbaba and al-Kamil hills in the al-Dhabab area west of Taiz.

Attack on Taiz Repelled

Earlier on Friday, the army reported that its forces repelled a 'large-scale' Houthi attack on Taiz: after nearly eight hours of intense fighting, at least 16 fighters were killed, according to the military.

Operation Context

The fighting is part of the government's 'Yemen Dawn' operation, launched earlier this month to retake territories held by the Houthis, including the capital Sanaa. Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa and a number of provinces, leading to intervention by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition the following year in support of the internationally recognized government. According to the publication, the new escalation began in July after the collapse of the 2022 truce.