According to reports out of the Yemeni city of Taiz, fighting is once again on the rise in the area, with at least 33 people killed in the past 24 hours, including eight civilians. 21 Houthis and four pro-Saudi fighters also died in clashes and airstrikes.
Pro-Saudi officials had been claiming forces were advancing more deeply into the city, though between the fighting and reports of landmines being planted on some of their routes, the advance appears to have virtually stalled, leaving the city in the same state of dispute it’s been for months.
After retaking the southern port of Aden over the summer, the pro-Saudi forces moved against Taiz, Yemen’s third largest city, believing it to be the key to controlling the highway linking Aden to the capital city of Sanaa. When their first offensive stalled, they attempted an alternate route through Maarib Province.
Heavy fighting in the Maarib Province lasted for awhile, but the pro-Saudi forces eventually transitioned back to Taiz. The fighting has since picked up again there, with higher civilian casualties because it is a much more densely populated area.
The lack of progress for the Saudi war (to bring democracy to Yemen!) after 8 months of intensive bombing, must be an indication of widespread popular support for Houthis in the regions of Yemen north of Aden. That a coalition of Al-Qaida, ISIS, the Saudi coalition forces which also includes 2000 troops from Sudan and Yemeni tribesmen bought by Saudi money; as well as intel and logistical help from US; is incapable of bringing this war to an end will be a lesson for future puppet aggressors to embark on such adventures in the future.
Russia should now drop 60 tons of weapons to the Houthis including the equivalent stinger missiles to shoot down Saudi planes.