Yemen Government Claims ‘Dangerous Escalation’ After 10 Troops Killed in Taiz

Rights groups push to end Houthi blockade on city

An overnight attack near the Yemeni city of Taiz left at least 10 soldiers dead and several others wounded, once again reflecting the control the Houthis have over the area.

This comes just weeks after the government warning the blockade threatened the ceasefire. Human rights groups are also pushing to open Taiz up, noting it’s been closed virtually since the war began.

The government presented the fighting as a dangerous escalation, and one which threatens the ongoing ceasefire, which was supposed at least to partially relieve the blockade shortages.

The ceasefires have broadly held, apart from some brief clashes. The government is often threatening to end it for not getting its way on sideline issues, but it seems there is little benefit to scrapping it.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.