Escalating Clashes Across Yemen Leave Civilian Casualties as Fighting Intensifies in Taiz, Marib, Lahj, Al-Jawf
- 2026-10-18
- 17:37:32
ADEN – Escalating confrontations between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi group have erupted across multiple frontlines in Yemen, including the governorates of Taiz, Marib, Lahj, and Al-Jawf, amid ongoing airstrikes and artillery bombardments, according to military and government sources.
Government authorities reported that eight civilians were killed and six others wounded in a Houthi artillery attack targeting a village in Taiz governorate, underscoring the growing toll of the conflict on civilians.
In western Taiz, the Yemeni military said fierce clashes broke out around the Old Airport area and the Madarat region. Military officials also announced that government forces had repelled a Houthi assault on the Al-Shaqab front south of the city, marking the second failed attack in the span of 24 hours.
The army claimed that Houthi fighters suffered significant human and material losses during the fighting, although no independent casualty figures were immediately available. Military statements released earlier indicated that nine airstrikes were carried out Friday evening against Houthi positions and gatherings in Al-Misrakh district, the Al-Shaqab front, and areas surrounding Taiz city.
The reported casualty figures among Houthi fighters varied across military accounts, with officials asserting that a large number of combatants were killed during the confrontations.
Meanwhile, in Marib governorate, the Yemeni military confirmed that combat operations continue with support from local popular resistance forces. Government troops reportedly employed artillery and drones to target Houthi positions, fortifications, and troop concentrations on both the northern and southern fronts.
According to military statements, additional airstrikes struck Houthi weapons depots and command centers as government forces sought to weaken the group's operational capabilities in the strategic province.
In neighboring Lahj governorate, the Southern Giants Brigades announced strikes on Houthi gatherings along the Al-Mudaraba front but did not disclose casualty figures or further details regarding the operation.
The Al-Mudaraba area remains strategically significant due to its location along the corridor linking Lahj and Taiz and its proximity to key coastal routes, making it a critical battleground in the broader conflict.