Houthi forces launched a fresh offensive in western Yemen, clashing directly with the Yemeni Armed Forces in an attempt to cut the road linking Taiz to the Al-Makha district. Fourteen ballistic missiles and multiple drones were launched into Taiz and Hodeidah. The fighting killed at least 18 Houthi fighters and 13 Yemeni government troops.
THE MULTI-FRONT HOUTHI PICTURE
The Houthis are simultaneously conducting three distinct military operations:
▸ External: Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea coastline control — the strategic maritime dimension documented September 12; Mayun Island seized; shipping interdiction capability
▸ External: Gulf shipping assault support — part of the Iran-aligned campaign against Saudi Arabia and Gulf state energy infrastructure
▸ Internal: Taiz-Al-Makha road offensive — advancing against the internationally recognized Yemeni government armed forces, attempting to cut a strategic road in western Yemen
The internal offensive is distinct from the external operations. It is a civil war advance by Houthi forces against the Yemeni government that has been continuing in parallel with the more internationally covered external Houthi operations.
WHY THE IRGC YEMEN DEMAND CONNECTS
The IRGC stated on September 12 that Yemen must be part of any peace deal with the US. ONYX noted that the IRGC Yemen demand and the Houthi Bab el-Mandeb seizure are analytically connected. Today’s internal Taiz-Al-Makha offensive adds a third connection: the Houthis are not simply defending territory or conducting external operations for Iran. They are actively advancing in the internal Yemeni civil war simultaneously. Any peace deal that must include Yemen — per the IRGC’s demand — must address:
▸ Houthi external operations (Red Sea shipping, Gulf strikes)
▸ Houthi control of strategic maritime infrastructure (Mayun Island, Bab el-Mandeb)
▸ Houthi internal war advance (Taiz-Al-Makha offensive, Hodeidah)
▸ The Saudi-Houthi conflict that predates the Iran war
THE CIVILIAN DIMENSION
Taiz and Hodeidah are civilian urban centers. The Taiz-Al-Makha road is an economic and humanitarian supply route. Cutting it by Houthi military advance has specific civilian consequences: goods, medicine, and humanitarian supplies that move on that road would be disrupted. The 14 ballistic missiles and drones launched into Taiz and Hodeidah are attacks on urban populations.
The Houthis took Mayun Island. The Houthis attacked ten ships. The Houthis launched 14 ballistic missiles and drones into Taiz and Hodeidah. The Houthis are cutting the Taiz-Al-Makha road. Three simultaneous operations. The IRGC says Yemen must be in any deal. The deal would have to address all three.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
▸ Taiz-Al-Makha road — whether Houthi forces successfully cut the road
▸ Yemeni Armed Forces response — whether government forces hold the strategic road
▸ Humanitarian impact — whether the Taiz-Hodeidah offensive disrupts civilian supply routes
▸ IRGC Yemen demand — whether the three-front Houthi operation makes a Yemen peace condition more or less achievable
| CONFIDENCE: HIGH | Houthi offensive in western Yemen: Taiz al-Makha road; 14 ballistic missiles drones Taiz Hodeidah 18 Houthi fighters; 13 government troops killed, from current events confirmed tracking. |
SOURCES
▸ Current events tracking — Houthi Yemen internal offensive Taiz al-Makha September 13, 2026
