Sanaa’s forces reached the outskirts of Taiz from several directions on Monday, raising expectations that the city could fall, dealing another blow to Saudi Arabia’s position in Yemen. With Ansar Allah forces approaching the eastern and western entrances, they also advanced toward the southern gateway, leaving Riyadh-backed factions with difficult choices as several groups continued to refuse to surrender without a fight. A local source in Taiz told Al-Akhbar that the Sanaa government was calling for an end to bloodshed and seeking to spare cities and densely populated areas from military confrontation. It had “granted the mercenaries safe passage out of Taiz while guaranteeing security for those who wish to remain,” the source said. A general amnesty would cover everyone except those who had committed crimes involving private claims, the source added. The source described divisions within the factions defending the city, revealing that several military, political and party leaders had left Taiz with Ansar Allah’s approval and under its protection, reaching Aden and Marib. The movement’s offer to allow Saudi-backed leaders to leave remains in place, as does its amnesty. Contacts through social leaders are continuing over a possible handover of Taiz, the source said. Sanaa’s forces seized the city’s central prison early Monday and advanced toward its neighborhoods. Heavy fighting erupted at the southern entrance in the districts of Mishra’a wa Hadnan and Sabir Al-Mawadim. Ansar Allah made gains in areas like Hasban, Ras Al-Naqil and Dhi Al-Barih, and advanced in Al-Shaqb, Al-Najda and Kahlan. It also recaptured Al-Sarari, where militant groups committed abuses and displaced residents in late 2016. Intense clashes were reported around Jabal Al-Arus, one of Taiz’s key defensive positions, and Jabal Sabir. Despite the shrinking room for maneuver and the declining prospects of the Saudi-backed government retaining control of the city, Riyadh continues to pressure armed groups to hold their positions and refuse surrender, threatening urban warfare, according to several local sources. Meanwhile, the Sanaa government has begun preparing to restore normal life in Taiz. It pledged to reopen closed roads, while local authorities announced they were ready to address fuel and cooking-gas shortages. Ansar Allah also reassured the city’s roughly three million residents that it would protect their lives and property. Several families announced they were forgiving abuses committed against them by Saudi-backed factions and rejected turning Taiz into a battlefield. Saudi-led coalition aircraft intensified strikes around the city, targeting several areas on Monday in an apparent effort to impede Ansar Allah’s advance. Sanaa’s operations inside Saudi territory continued and intensified on Monday as the kingdom carried out further attacks on civilians across Yemen. Fighting intensifies near Bab Al-Mandab On the Bab Al-Mandab front, Sanaa’s forces carried out a flanking maneuver aimed at encircling Saudi-backed factions. Field sources told Al-Akhbar that the forces seized the entire Al-Subaiha mountain range after overrunning Al-Aghbara and Al-Mansoura fronts. They captured high ground and strategic positions that provide fire superiority over the coastal road between Al-Mudharaba and Ras Al-Ara. Military observers said the operation could leave any reinforcements arriving from Aden along the coastal road exposed to fire. It could also thwart a new offensive by Saudi-backed factions toward Al-Wazi’iyah front, forcing them to withdraw and halt fighting east of Bab Al-Mandab. Military sources said Ansar Allah’s advance deep into Lahj, led by newly formed units, was intended to protect its gains and counter an escalation by Saudi Arabia through southern Salafi factions. The sources stressed that the movement had no intention of advancing into the southern provinces. Sanaa intensifies attacks inside Saudi Arabia Sanaa’s operations inside Saudi territory continued and intensified on Monday as the kingdom carried out further attacks on civilians across Yemen. The latest Saudi crime included an attack that killed all seven members of a family in Khub wa al-Sha'af district in Al-Jawf province, as well as a strike on a residential compound near Taiz. Attacks on infrastructure in rural Taiz and other provinces also continued. The number of airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition has exceeded 2,000 since the beginning of September. This is an edited translation for a report published in Arabic.
