“No Point of Return”: Yemeni Assistant Defense Minister Reveals Moves to Encircle Houthis in Taiz

Yemen Monitor / Taiz / Exclusive: Major General Samir al-Sabri, Assistant Minister of Defense of Yemen, has revealed ongoing military movements aimed not only at breaking the siege imposed by the Houthi militia on Taiz city, but also at encircling Houthi forces that have advanced into areas across the governorate. He reiterated that the ultimate objective of Operation “Fajr Al-Yemen” (Dawn of Yemen) remains reaching the capital, Sana’a. In an interview with Al Hadath news channel, General al-Sabri stated that field commanders are working in direct coordination with the high command to designate the appropriate axes for executing operations capable of lifting Taiz blockade and surrounding Houthi formations that pushed into parts of the governorate during recent combat operations. In the interview followed by Yemen Monitor, he added that operational plans extend beyond securing a relief corridor for humanitarian assistance into the city, aiming instead to “encircle all enemy units that entered these sectors,” noting that field commanders are actively assigning the operational axes required to execute these maneuvers. He remarked that the Houthis’ entry into villages, towns, and rural zones across Taiz Governorate represents, in his assessment, a “point of no return,” referring to the trajectory of ongoing military engagements in the province. Al-Sabri declined to disclose the specific fronts from which siege-breaking operations will be launched—including Hayjat al-Abed axis, which has been cited as a potential vector—stressing that the timing, locations, and tactical execution of these maneuvers remain strictly under the purview of field commanders and military planners. Al-Jawf Operations Disrupt Houthi Calculations in Taiz In a parallel development, the Assistant Minister of Defense stated that advances by government forces and the Popular Resistance in Al-Jawf Governorate directly support the battle in Taiz. He suggested that the militia likely redeployed a substantial portion of its personnel and specialized military assets toward the perimeter of Taiz in an attempt to tighten the siege and launch assaults. He explained that the Houthis concentrated their efforts and reinforcements on the Taiz fronts, which, in his view, accounts for the rapid retreat of some of their positions in Al-Jawf in the face of advancing government forces. He noted that the militia’s heavy engagement in the Taiz theater likely impaired its capacity to sustain multi-front combat operations simultaneously, particularly across Marib and Al-Jawf axes. Al-Sabri emphasized that combat operations across all governorates have become interconnected, with progress on one front directly impacting others, adding that recent Houthi maneuvers have served to unify the operational efforts of the armed forces, popular resistance, and allied fighting formations. Sana’a the Primary Objective of Operation “Fajr Al-Yemen” Responding to a question regarding operational goals in Marib and Al-Jawf, al-Sabri confirmed that reaching the capital, Sana’a, constitutes the central objective of Operation “Fajr Al-Yemen,” as formally declared by the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He stated that specific operational details, advancement corridors, and timetables remain subject to the ongoing assessments and calculations of field commanders. He added that the current phase of the war differs fundamentally from previous rounds, as the Houthis, according to him, are no longer the sole party dictating the timing and location of engagements. He pointed out that new battlefronts have been activated and others will open during the coming phase, affirming that government forces are systematically proceeding with the execution of the six framework steps governing the battle. Shift from Defense to Offense on Taiz Fronts Al-Sabri revealed an operational shift in military maneuvers across several fronts in Taiz —most notably Al-Aqrud, Sabir, and Rakh—confirming that government forces and the Popular Resistance are no longer restricting themselves to defensive positions, but have actively initiated offensive operations. He explained that officers, troops, and resistance commanders are executing complex engagements utilizing specialized tactics, including ambushes and flanking maneuvers, designed to stem Houthi advances and target their deployment areas. He commended the performance of fighters on the Sabir front, noting that their combat execution reflects advancing expertise among military leaders and local resistance forces. Conversely, al-Sabri suggested the presence of trained foreign personnel participating in the planning and execution of Houthi military operations, asserting that the level of tactical coordination and professionalism observed in certain attacks points to the involvement of non-Yemeni operatives. He stated that the operational handling of these engagements leads him to believe they are conducted under the supervision of highly experienced foreign military personnel, though he did not provide specific details regarding their nationalities. The Assistant Minister of Defense concluded by reiterating that operations across Taiz, Al-Jawf, and Marib represent integrated components of a single strategic campaign, and that government forces intend to maintain field initiative alongside efforts aimed at breaking the siege of Taiz and advancing toward the stated goals of Operation “Fajr Al-Yemen.” The post “No Point of Return”: Yemeni Assistant Defense Minister Reveals Moves to Encircle Houthis in Taiz appeared first on Yemen Monitor.