Houthi forces advance within 80 kilometers of Aden

Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen have reached a point 80 kilometers from Aden, the temporary capital and primary stronghold of the internationally recognized government. According to four military sources cited by Reuters on Monday, this offensive marks the closest approach to the city since the early months of the conflict in 2015.

The current escalation has effectively dismantled the 2022 UN-brokered truce that previously maintained relative stability. The Houthi advance threatens key strategic positions, including the critical supply route linking Aden to the besieged city of Taiz and areas near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This movement is part of a broader offensive that began in September, characterized by a rapid push down the Red Sea coast.

This regional instability is viewed as part of a wider conflict involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, and a coalition led by the United States and Israel, which began following events on January 28. In response to the Houthi advance, the Saudi-led coalition has intensified airstrikes against rebel positions. The situation remains volatile, with both sides intensifying military engagements and dragging regional powers deeper into the renewed Yemeni civil war.