Forces aligned with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government reported on Thursday that they successfully repelled an overnight offensive by Houthi rebels. The fighting centered on the Hejat al-Abd mountain pass, a critical transit point that serves as a primary supply route for government-held areas in the south.

Control over this pass is considered vital for the government, which is currently based in the port city of Aden. The route also serves as a necessary corridor for essential goods and supplies reaching Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city. According to government-aligned forces, the Houthi movement has been attempting a rapid advance in the region throughout the month. The government forces characterize this recent military activity as part of a broader escalation linked to regional tensions involving Iran. While the government claims the attack was repelled, the situation remains fluid given the strategic importance of the mountain pass to both sides of the ongoing conflict.