Yemeni army takes control of the Khawshan mountain ridge in Al-Jawf province

Capture of the ridge and its significance

The Yemeni army has completed establishing control over the Khawshan mountain ridge east of Al-Hazm, the administrative center of the northern province of Al-Jawf, after battles with Houthi forces. This was announced on October 31 by Colonel Rabi al-Qurashi, a field commander of the army in Al-Jawf, in an interview with the Anadolu Agency. According to him, the advance was supported by warplanes that destroyed dozens of Houthi vehicles, and the military operation continues.

What taking the heights changes

According to al-Qurashi, the ridge forms the first line of defense of Al-Hazm, which remains under Houthi control. According to local Yemeni media cited by Anadolu, capturing the dominant heights allows government forces to cut off the Houthis' supply routes in the province; the mountains also overlook key Houthi positions near Al-Hazm. The agency's correspondent notes that parts of the ridge were taken during clashes on Friday, and full control was established on Saturday.

Context of the province and the escalation

Al-Jawf is strategically important: the province borders Saudi Arabia and is located near the Houthi-held Saada, Amran and Sana, as well as the government-controlled oil-producing Hadhramaut and Marib. Control over the province itself is divided: the Houthis hold Al-Hazm and other districts, while government forces hold the remaining territories, and both sides continue to fight for strategic positions. According to Anadolu, fighting has intensified in recent weeks amid the renewed confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia: both sides report attacks and military operations in Yemen and the region as a whole.