Yemeni government forces launch counteroffensive against Houthis in Taiz, al-Bayda, al-Jawf

September 8, 2026 at 10:37 PM2 min

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Yemen's internationally recognised government launched counterattacks against Houthi rebels this week, with fighting intensifying Monday in Taiz, al-Bayda and al-Jawf provinces. The Houthis say they repelled some advances and attacked Saudi Arabia, which backs the government. The escalation follows a Houthi offensive last week toward the Red Sea's Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Key Facts

Fighting intensified Monday in the provinces of Taiz, al-Bayda and al-Jawf, the latter seen as a main gateway to the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa.
The Houthis launched a major offensive last week, trying to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah toward the port city of al-Makha and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Tensions escalated in July after government forces claimed an attack on the Houthi-controlled airport in Sanaa, preventing an Iranian aircraft from landing.
Analyst Mohammed al-Basha of Basha Report told Al Jazeera the conflict is likely to be a protracted war rather than a rapid campaign.

Government Counteroffensive

Yemen's internationally recognised government launched counterattacks against the Houthi rebels this week, with fighting intensifying on Monday in the provinces of Taiz, al-Bayda and al-Jawf. Al-Jawf is seen as one of the main gateways to the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa. The government has its sights set on retaking the capital from the Iran-backed Houthis. Analysts say government-aligned forces are better resourced than at any point in the conflict, but they also warn against a swift victory.

Houthi Response and Regional Strikes

The Houthis say they have repelled some of the government forces' advances and attacked Saudi Arabia, which supports the Yemeni government. Last week the Houthis launched a major offensive, trying to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah towards the port city of al-Makha and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. The Houthis have conducted regular attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since 2023.

Strategic Context

Both sides are vying for control of the area near Bab al-Mandeb, which has gained greater significance amid Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas supplies. Tensions escalated in July after government forces claimed an attack on the Houthi-controlled airport in Sanaa, preventing an aircraft from Iran from landing. Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemeni-American analyst and founder of Basha Report, told Al Jazeera that this is likely to be a protracted war rather than a rapid campaign.