Yemen: Joint Forces Advancing Into Taiz Governorate

The Arab Coalition-backed Joint Forces announced their progress in new areas in Taiz and Hodeidah governorates, North Yemen, following violent clashes with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Giant Forces media center said that the Joint Forces took control of the outskirts of Wadi Saqm and strategic areas in the Maqbna district, Taiz governorate, on Saturday. On Sunday, it also announced its control of the village of Al-Run in Hays district in Hodeidah.

The forces published a video showing the progress of their members inside the Maqbna district in Taiz. The video showed military vehicles, 23 weapons and artillery launchers while firing against Houthi positions.

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A video of the violent clashes between the Joint Forces and the Houthis on the outskirts of Wadi Saqm and Tabat al-Jamal overlooking Maqbna District, Taiz (official)

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The Joint Forces said that they had achieved "military and field victories" during the past days in the governorates of Taiz and Hodeidah, as part of the redeployment plan they implemented in areas not covered by the Stockholm agreement.

Maqbna district is the third largest district of Taiz in terms of area, and its borders are located with Ibb governorate, which is within the Houthi areas.

Last week, the Joint Forces managed to take control of the strategic Al-Adeen triangle north of Hays district, Hodeidah governorate, which links it to Ibb governorate.

During his first visit to Russia, the UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed his "concern about the military escalation in Marib and the West Coast, highlighting the dangers that further escalation may bring."

The Joint Forces include the Southern Giants Forces, the National Resistance Forces, led by the nephew of the former president, Tariq Saleh, and the Tuhami Resistance Forces.

During the past two weeks, the Joint Forces announced their redeployment in Hodeidah and the withdrawal from locations around the city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, where they had been stationed since 2018.