Yemeni government forces announced on Tuesday they had seized control of the al-Dahida heights, a strategic mountain range in the northern al-Jawf governorate, in what officials described as a significant battlefield gain against Houthi fighters. A military statement said troops backed by coalition air support advanced on the highland position over several days of clashes, and that engineering units were clearing the area of explosives. The Houthi movement has not commented on the claim, and the extent of government control over the heights could not be independently verified. Al-Jawf, which borders Saudi Arabia, has been a recurring flashpoint in Yemen's decade-long conflict, with control of its highlands offering oversight of supply routes and surrounding valleys.
The reported advance comes as fighting escalates across several other frontlines in the country's south and southwest. Local and medical sources reported renewed clashes and artillery exchanges in al-Dhalea, Lahij and Taiz provinces in recent days, with casualties reported among combatants and civilians. The uptick in violence follows the collapse of a UN-brokered truce that had largely halted major military operations, though sporadic fighting continued throughout. Humanitarian agencies warn that renewed displacement and disruption to aid corridors are worsening an already severe crisis. International mediators have repeatedly urged the parties to return to negotiations, but no new round of talks has been scheduled.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.