Yemen rebels reach 80 km from Aden

Iran-backed Houthi fighters closed the distance to Aden on Monday, reaching a point just 80 km (50 miles) from the city. Four military sources told Reuters that this position is the closest the rebels have come to the government's temporary capital since the early months of the war in 2015. The move marks a sharp escalation in the conflict that began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa.

The offensive has broken the 2022 UN-brokered truce that had paused major combat operations. Fighting is now active at a military camp in the Tur al-Bahah district, a primary approach route to Aden. The camp sits roughly 50 km from the provincial capital of Lahj. Houthi forces launched an attack on government positions in Al-Maqatirah three days ago and have since secured the entire district. The mountainous terrain in that area overlooks the main road connecting Taiz and Aden.

Government troops have been forced to retreat toward Tur al-Bahah as a result of the Al-Maqatirah push. This retreat threatens the last remaining road link between government-held territory and Taiz. Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, has been encircled since early October when the rebels cut the main southern road to Aden. The siege has displaced more than 100,000 people and created shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.

The latest advance follows a broader offensive that started in September. During that period, Houthi forces swept down the Red Sea coast and took territory along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This strait serves as a key route for Saudi oil exports to Asia and is one of the world's most important shipping lanes. Military sources said the new positions allow the Houthis to outflank government troops along the mountain range overlooking the strait. Government forces had previously expelled Houthi fighters from that specific area only weeks earlier.

The conflict has drawn Saudi Arabia deeper into the regional war alongside the United States and Israel. The Houthis have increased attacks on Saudi Arabia, which backs the Yemeni government. In response, the Saudi-led coalition has stepped up strikes on Houthi positions inside Yemen. Houthi official Hamid Rizq posted a video claiming fighters entered Souq al-Rabouh in Maqatirah district, though Reuters could not immediately verify the footage. Yemen's information minister did not respond to a request for comment.

Attacks on Aden itself have intensified in recent weeks. The group struck Aden airport on Wednesday after issuing an evacuation warning. The presidential palace was also hit in October. The current fighting in Tur al-Bahah signals that the volatile new front is expanding toward the coast, putting pressure on the recognized government's main stronghold.