Yemen's government forces repelled overnight Houthi attacks on the Hejat al-Abd pass, a key Taiz-Aden route, government sources said Thursday. The road carries goods to Taiz; Houthi control of parts could tighten their grip around the city.
The mountain road is a lifeline for forces fighting for Yemen's government and the only route for residents seeking to travel abroad, as no commercial flights operate from Houthi-controlled areas.
The wider flare-up follows Houthi advances along Yemen's western coast that reached Bab el-Mandeb nearly two weeks ago. The strait is a major shipping chokepoint linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The UN says the latest fighting has killed more than 700 people and wounded thousands; nearly 130,000 Yemenis have been displaced, and more than 3,000 have fled by boat across the Red Sea to Africa.
