Houthi Forces Advance to Within 80 Kilometers of Aden
Houthi forces have advanced to within 80 kilometers of Aden, threatening Yemen's temporary capital and shattering a 2022 UN-brokered truce.
Iran-aligned Houthi forces have advanced to within 80 kilometers of Aden, the temporary capital of Yemen's internationally recognized government. This movement marks the closest the group has come to the city since early 2015. The offensive, which began in September, has seen the group seize territory along the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and recently capture the Al-Maqatirah district.
The advance threatens the primary road linking Aden to Taiz, where a Houthi-imposed siege since October has displaced over 100,000 people. This escalation shatters a 2022 UN-brokered truce and integrates the Yemeni conflict into a broader regional war involving the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
In response, the Saudi-led coalition has increased strikes on Houthi positions. Simultaneously, the Houthis have intensified attacks on Aden, targeting the airport and the presidential palace. Houthi official Hamid Rizq released video footage claiming fighters entered Souq al-Rabouh in the Maqatirah district as part of the push toward the capital.
