Fighting between Houthi forces and Yemen's internationally recognised government forces has sharply escalated in western Taiz province, marking some of the most intense clashes in years and raising fears of a wider conflict around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The clashes have centred on the Al-Kadha front in western Taiz, spreading to the districts of Maqbanah and Jabal Habashi, where Houthi forces launched attacks against several military positions. The area is strategically important as it lies along the road connecting Taiz city with the Red Sea port of Al-Makha (Mocha).

Houthi fighters have been attempting to advance toward areas overlooking the Red Sea coast and Bab al-Mandeb, a vital maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Control of the surrounding highlands could give the group greater influence over one of the world's most important shipping routes.

Yemeni government forces have responded by sending reinforcements and launching air operations against Houthi positions in Taiz and neighbouring Al Hudaydah province. Military sources said dozens of strikes were carried out against Houthi positions, vehicles and gatherings as government forces attempted to halt the advance.

The escalation has taken a heavy toll on civilians. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said around 1,800 families were displaced within two days after intense shelling and clashes in Maqbanah and Jabal Habashi districts.

The fighting has also raised concerns over the security of the Taiz-Makha supply route and the wider Red Sea region. Analysts warn that further expansion of hostilities around Bab al-Mandeb could increase risks for regional stability and international maritime traffic.

Yemen's conflict had largely remained at a lower intensity following a UN-backed truce in 2022, but tensions have increased again in recent months, with renewed clashes threatening to push the country back toward broader warfare. (ILKHA)