According to field sources cited by Al-Akhbar newspaper, Ansarullah forces have secured key positions in southern Taiz and western Lahj following intense clashes with Saudi-backed forces, strengthening their control over strategic areas overlooking supply routes and military positions.
The advances come as Ansarullah has intensified its operations against targets inside Saudi Arabia, particularly Riyadh, in response to Saudi attacks on Yemeni civilians.
The Yemeni forces have advanced through areas including Jabal Habashi district in western Taiz, as well as Al-Mawaset and Al-Shamayteen districts, extending toward the outskirts of Al-Madaribah and Ras Al-Arah districts and the Kahbub area in western Lahj.
Meanwhile, Saudi-backed forces failed to establish positions in the mountainous areas of Lahj, located around 35 kilometers from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, despite receiving heavy air support and the deployment of several Saudi-backed Salafi brigades.
The failure prevented an attempted counteroffensive toward the town of Dhubab east of Al-Mokha aimed at regaining control over areas overlooking the strategic waterway.
As a result, Ansarullah forces consolidated their gains across the southern Taiz fronts and expanded their control over key supply lines linking Taiz with southern Yemen.
Field sources said Ansarullah continued its advance in Al-Shamayteen district after securing Jabal Jardan and capturing the Alqam and Sharirah fronts near the Rasin mountain range overlooking Al-Turbah city.
The Rasin mountain range serves as the southern gateway to Taiz province and provides Sanaa forces with fire control over supply routes toward Al-Madaribah fronts.
In western Lahj, Ansarullah also consolidated control over several strategic locations, including most of the mountains in the Kahbub area such as Jabal Hajijah, Jabal Qalaa, Tabat Muftah, Al-Ardhi, Al-Mahawlah, Al-Aghbarah, Al-Mashawlah, Al-Bakrah, Wadi Al-Madaribah and Al-Saqiyah.
Observers described the advances in the Rasin mountain range and the capture of Jabal Jardan as signs of an approaching takeover of the remaining areas of Taiz under the control of Saudi-backed forces.
The developments follow Ansarullah’s reported control over major supply routes connecting southern Taiz with southern Yemen, including the road between Taiz and Al-Turbah, routes between Al-Turbah and Al-Hujariyah, and the Hajjah Al-Abd road leading toward Aden.
Separately, Saudi Arabia has carried out dozens of airstrikes over the past two days in areas of southern Taiz and western Lahj in an attempt to support its allied forces and halt Ansarullah’s advances.
After failing to prevent the battlefield gains, Saudi aircraft targeted infrastructure including bridges, public roads, government buildings, schools and civilian homes.
Sanaa responded by targeting strategic Saudi facilities, including Aramco installations in Yanbu in western Saudi Arabia and air bases in Taif, Khamis Mushait and Riyadh used by Saudi aircraft for operations against Yemen.