On Thursday, 5 November 2026, Yemeni government forces intensified a renewed campaign against Houthi rebels on multiple fronts, striking an armed missile launcher on Mount Ba'dan in Ibb province and launching air attacks on Houthi positions southeast of Taiz before engaging in sustained ground battles in the Maqaterah sector of Lahj. The operations, described by Yemeni TV outlets, are part of the “Dawn of Yemen” operation that began on 5 October and aims to reclaim state institutions and the capital, Sanaa, from the rebels.
Al-Jumhuriya TV reported the first key blow when an airstrike destroyed a Houthi missile launcher on Mount Ba'dan in Ibb, marking the second strike in the province within 24 hours. The same channel noted further airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in the villages of al‑Sarari and Dhi al‑Barah, southeast of Mount Saber in Taiz province, in an effort to disrupt enemy supply lines.
Aden TV covered the escalation in Lahj, documenting fierce combat in the Maqaterah, al‑Sawalah and al‑Zariq areas. It reported that airstrikes were directed at Houthi reinforcements in Naqil al‑Saha in Maqaterah, and that forces from the Fourth Military Region struck a Houthi vehicle mounting a 23‑mm anti‑aircraft gun, destroying both the vehicle and the weapon. The clash left dozens of Houthi fighters killed or wounded, with many reported to have been taken to Khalifa Hospital in Turbah for treatment.
Muniy and other reports indicate that the August–November spike in fighting has forced a mass displacement. According to United Nations figures cited by the government, the war has already displaced more than 250,000 people since July as the national infrastructure fails when Houthi forces seize control of districts and municipalities.
In Taiz province, Aden TV highlighted a tragic civilian toll when a Houthi missile strike hit the al‑Athawir area of Hayfan district, killing eight civilians, including children. The casualty figures reinforce activists’ concerns that the escalating conflict is eroding public safety and institutional accountability in the region.
During the day, Yemeni officials claimed that the forces executed 322 operations, reporting 64 Houthi fighters killed and 16 military vehicles destroyed or disabled. These figures, reported by Al-Jumhuriya and Aden TV, underscore the perceived gains of the “Dawn of Yemen” effort amid claims of a steady advance toward regaining governmental control in contested areas.
The renewed clashes have ended a period of relative calm that had prevailed since April 2022. The government’s statements emphasize the need to restore the authority of state institutions in the face of Houthi insurgencies that have seized the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces since September 2014. The Saudi‑led coalition’s intervention in March 2015 is a backdrop to today’s intensified operations that seek to reverse the strategic gains of the rebels.
From a civic perspective, the latest waves of combat put ordinary citizens at risk. The destruction of a missile launcher and the presence of airstrikes in densely populated areas have heightened fears among residents. The reported civilian deaths and ongoing displacement pose significant challenges to public accountability and the ability of humanitarian agencies to deliver aid in a landscape where government control is contested. As the fighting resumes in key provinces, the urgency of resolving a humanitarian crisis that has already engulfed Yemen becomes increasingly apparent.
