Fighting has intensified on the outskirts of Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, as government forces and allied Popular Resistance fighters clashed with Houthi rebels on Wednesday, October 21.
The internationally recognized government said its forces repelled the attack near the city’s old airport and Jabal Han mountain, while air strikes targeted Houthi positions, vehicles and a missile launchpad around the city.
The fighting has worsened living conditions in Taiz, where Houthi forces have largely encircled the city and blocked key supply routes, including the main road to Aden. Restrictions have also prevented sanitation workers from accessing the main landfill, forcing them to burn rubbish along major streets.
Aid agencies warn that fuel shortages are disrupting water supplies, hospital services and waste collection, raising fears of disease outbreaks. Residents say the growing piles of rubbish and thick smoke are adding to the dangers posed by the ongoing conflict.
