Why the Houthi advance towards Yemen’s Marib, Taiz matters

Marib is home to Yemen’s oil and gas sector. Whoever controls it secures major economic gains. Taiz’s location makes it strategically critical.

x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A member of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, including National Army and Taiz Axis forces, mans a turret mounted on the back of a pick-up truck at a checkpoint along the Kadha front line west of Taiz in western Yemen [AFP] By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 14 Sep 2026 14 Sep 2026 Yemen’s government forces have carried out air attacks against the Iran-backed Houthis to repel their advances, as the rebel group has been gaining ground in government-held positions in the past week.