Yemeni government forces have taken control of the Samea fortress in southwestern Taiz province after intense fighting with Houthi forces, according to a military source.
The source told the state-run Saba news agency that dozens of Houthi fighters were reportedly killed or wounded during the clashes, while others withdrew from the area.
The capture of the fortress is seen by government forces as an important development because it could help secure routes into Taiz and prevent Houthi forces from maneuvering around government positions and strengthening their defenses.
Earlier on Saturday, the Yemeni army reported heavy fighting on multiple fronts in Taiz. Military spokesman Majed al-Nuzaili said 71 strikes had targeted Houthi positions, military preparations and reinforcements in different parts of the province.
Meanwhile, the army’s media center reported that air defenses intercepted and destroyed four Houthi drones on the Al-Shahla front in eastern Al-Jawf province.
The Houthis had not immediately issued a statement regarding the reported capture of Samea fortress or the downed drones.
The latest fighting comes amid a renewed military escalation that began in July, following several years of relative calm after the UN-brokered truce reached in April 2022.
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