Yemen and the Red Sea

Yemen's government says it retook Hais district as Taiz clashes kill more than 60

ATTACK
Location
Hais (Hays) district, Al Hudaydah governorate, Yemen — district level; the same operation reaches al-Jarahi to the north and the al-Barh junction in western Taiz
Actors
Yemen (internationally recognized government) · Houthis
Importance
Major

Yemen's military said on 6 September that it had recaptured Hais district south of Hodeidah, at the junction of the Hodeidah, Taiz and Ibb provinces, and had opened a counteroffensive in neighbouring al-Jarahi. AFP put Saturday's clashes in Taiz at more than 60 dead including civilians. The Houthis had not commented.

Al Jazeera reported that government forces claimed the full recapture of Hais, described as strategically located at the junction of Hodeidah, Taiz and Ibb, along with areas around the al-Barh junction in western Taiz, and that in al-Jarahi district in southern Hodeidah they said they had captured dozens of Houthi fighters. Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi said the armed forces were capable of restoring full control over the country's territory and warned the Houthis would bear the consequences; military spokesman Colonel Majed al-Nozaili said the operations answered the group's violations and escalation. AFP reported more than 60 people killed in Taiz on Saturday, including civilians, and 26 government soldiers killed in several hours of fighting that day, citing military sources. OCHA said about 1,800 families had been displaced over the previous two days. Asharq Al-Awsat, citing field sources, reported the same advance and noted that taking al-Jarahi would open the road toward Houthi-held Hodeidah. Analyst Ahmed Nagi told Al Jazeera it was too early to describe the developments as a significant shift in control. The Houthis had not commented on the Hais claim.

Why it matters

Hais sits behind the coastal road that carries the Mokha front, and al-Jarahi is the next step toward Hodeidah, the port through which the Houthis move what the Red Sea blockade does not stop. This is the first time in this campaign that the ground has moved back toward the government.

  • Fatalities: Low 60 people · Confidence: Probable · Evidence: Yemeni forces claim strategic district amid intensified Houthi clashes, How significant are the Yemeni government's military gains against Houthis? · AFP: more than 60 killed in Taiz on Saturday 5 September, including civilians; 26 of them government soldiers, per AFP military sources.
  • Displaced people: Low 1800 families · Confidence: Probable · Evidence: Yemeni forces claim strategic district amid intensified Houthi clashes, How significant are the Yemeni government's military gains against Houthis? · OCHA: about 1,800 families displaced over the previous two days.

Verification: Probable

Evidence: Yemeni forces claim strategic district amid intensified Houthi clashes, How significant are the Yemeni government's military gains against Houthis?, Yemen Army Pursues Houthis Southeast of Hodeidah

The recapture is a Yemeni government claim carried by Al Jazeera and Asharq Al-Awsat; the Houthis have not commented and there is no independent confirmation of control. The casualty and displacement figures are stronger: AFP for the Taiz toll and its military sources for the 26 soldiers, OCHA for the displacement.