Houthis in Yemen advanced to within 80 kilometers of Aden

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Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have advanced to within 80 kilometers of Aden, the temporary capital and main stronghold of the internationally recognized government, four military sources told Reuters on Monday. It is their closest approach to the city since the early months of the war in 2015, when they briefly entered before being driven out.

The sources said the Houthis attacked government positions in the mountainous Al-Maqatira area three days earlier and took control of the area. It overlooks the road linking Aden and Taiz, an important transport route in southwestern Yemen. Government forces withdrew toward Tur al-Baha, where fighting continued Monday around a military camp about 50 kilometers from Lahj’s provincial capital. The advance could give the Houthis an opportunity to outflank government forces along the mountain range overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the sources said.