Fighting escalates in Yemen as Houthis claim to have seized new strategic area
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have released footage said to show their operations in Taiz governorate. Fighting with forces loyal to the internationally recognised government has escalated sharply in recent weeks.
An armed confrontation in Yemen, in the Middle East, is continuing between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the country's internationally recognised government. The Houthis have released video footage said to show their operations in Taiz governorate. According to France 24, fighting has escalated dramatically in recent weeks.
What is happening on the ground
Reports say the Houthis have managed to seize a number of strategically important areas. According to the source, this is the main reason the conflict has intensified so quickly. The footage was published as evidence of Houthi activity in Taiz governorate, but the source says only that it is said to show these operations. Its content and location have not been independently confirmed.
The parties involved
On one side are the Houthis, who are backed by Iran. On the other are forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. The conflict in Yemen is therefore tied to the influence of two regional powers.
Why it matters
Gaining or losing strategically important territory can shift the balance of power between the sides. The source does not, however, give the names of the areas seized, casualty figures or the losses of either side, so the full scale of the situation remains only partly clear. The information relies on Houthi statements and reports, and should be treated with caution.
