The ring closed: Yemen's army came under attack near Taiz
On October 12, the Houthis completely surrounded the Yemeni city of Taiz, closing the siege ring. Government forces lost the ability to receive reinforcements and evacuate soldiers. The decisive step was the capture of the main road connecting Taiz to Aden on October 4. Over 70 people were killed in 24 hours of fighting in the province. The Houthi offensive, which began in September, led to the capture of the entire Red Sea coast of Yemen.
On October 12, the Houthis completely surrounded the Yemeni city of Taiz, closing the siege ring. Now government forces controlling the city find it significantly harder to receive reinforcements, evacuate soldiers, and maintain their defense. The decisive step was taken on October 4, when the Houthis cut the main road connecting Taiz to Aden, the temporary capital of the Yemeni government. According to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the ring has fully closed. Over 70 people were killed in 24 hours of fighting in Taiz province, according to sources on both sides. The Houthi offensive, which began in September, led to the capture of the entire Red Sea coast of Yemen, including the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb strait. According to the UN, over 145,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. Yemen expert Ahmed Nagi from the Crisis Group noted that the Houthis are not trying to enter the city directly, but rather aim to surround it and cut off supply routes.