Yemeni forces strike Houthis in Dhubab, warn civilians to avoid Mokha and Taiz roads

Yemeni armed forces targeted Houthi fighters and vehicles on the Mokha–Dhubab road in Taiz province, while also launching heavy strikes on Houthi equipment in the Dhubab area, according to Al Arabiya/Al Hadath sources on Friday.

The strikes coincided with an announcement by the Yemeni armed forces spokesperson, who said airstrikes had begun inside the previously declared "kill box," urging civilians to avoid the Taiz–Mokha and Mokha–Dhubab roads until further notice.

The spokesperson emphasized the need for civilians to comply with the road restrictions and not use the prohibited routes, as military operations continue in the area.

These developments follow renewed Houthi attacks near Mokha, prompting government forces to reposition their units and reinforce their presence along the western coast, while also sending reinforcements from Mokha toward Dhubab in Taiz province.

In a parallel political and military escalation, the Yemeni National Defense Council stated on Thursday evening that any "temporary" Houthi advances do not grant them the right to impose a new reality by force, stressing the state's and armed forces' ability to regain the initiative and continue what it described as a "deterrence operation" on various fronts.

The current fighting comes a week after clashes erupted between the Houthis and government forces, described as the fiercest since the 2022 truce.

The clashes have resulted in at least 500 deaths, mostly fighters, according to Agence France-Presse.

The fighting has also displaced at least 20,000 people, according to the United Nations, with thousands fleeing Mokha and its surroundings in southern Hodeidah province toward Aden, the government's base.