Houthi Forces Advance Toward Taiz as Aden Airport Targeted by Explosives

Houthi forces have intensified their activities in south-west Yemen, mounting a slow advance toward the city of Taiz while carrying out a strike on Aden’s main airport. According to The Guardian, the attack on the airport occurred on Wednesday, moments before a flight arriving from Cairo was scheduled to land. The incident forced the aircraft to divert to Jeddah and triggered a formal safety review of flight operations at the hub, which serves as a primary international gateway for the Saudi-backed government.

British ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, stated that the strike posed a significant risk to thousands of people. Meanwhile, observers suggest the Houthis are moving toward capturing Taiz, the nation's third-largest city, as government-aligned forces reportedly pull back to reinforce defenses in Aden. The Institute for the Study of War has revised its earlier assessment of the conflict, noting that evidence from the last 24 hours indicates a halt in previous government-aligned advances on the coastal plain.

Beyond domestic operations, the Houthi group claimed responsibility for missile attacks against two airports in Saudi Arabia. While Saudi officials initially reported the attacks were repelled, they later confirmed that three people were killed and 36 wounded in the incidents.

In a separate development, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi addressed the third anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, criticizing Saudi Arabia’s role in regional conflicts and its stance regarding the Palestinian cause and Hezbollah. Despite the recent Houthi momentum, pro-government militia forces known as the Southern Giant Brigades continue efforts to secure the Bab al-Mandab strait. These forces are currently positioned in the military airport sector within the Dhubab district.