Houthis Launch Major Ground Offensive Against Yemeni Government Forces, Renewing Civil War

On 03/09/2026, Yemen's Houthi movement launched a large-scale ground offensive against forces loyal to the internationally recognized Yemeni government, intensifying the country's civil war after the breakdown of the 2022 ceasefire in July 2026. The attacks targeted government positions in Taiz and Hodeidah governorates along Yemen's western Red Sea coast. Houthi fighters used artillery, ballistic missiles and drones while attempting to cut the strategic road connecting Taiz city to the port of Mokha. Initial clashes reportedly killed dozens of combatants on both sides. The offensive was described as the largest Houthi ground assault since the United Nations-brokered truce began in April 2022. Government forces launched counterattacks and recaptured several positions around Taiz, while fighting continued across multiple fronts. By 10/09/2026, Houthi forces had captured Mokha, approximately 75 kilometres from the Bab al-Mandab Strait. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg warned that renewed fighting threatened civilians and regional maritime security, reporting more than 11,400 newly displaced households since 03/09/2026. Historical Significance: The offensive ended the period of substantially reduced ground fighting that followed the 2022 truce and brought Houthi forces closer to a maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.