Yemen : Houthi Commander Killed, Drones Downed in Western Taiz Clashes

TAIZ – Local sources in Yemen reported Thursday evening that a senior Houthi commander and several of his escorts were killed in western Taiz, as government-aligned forces also shot down two attack drones amid escalating clashes.

According to a statement from the National Resistance’s military media, and field information carried by the pro-resistance outlet 2 December, the commander identified as Kamel Khalil Nasser al‑Wazir, known as “Abu Ali al‑Madani” was killed along with companions in the al‑Kadha area. No further details were provided.

In al‑Barh, also in western Taiz, resistance forces announced the downing of two Houthi drones as they approached military positions. The 51st Infantry Brigade reportedly intercepted the aircraft, later releasing footage said to show their wreckage. Military media claimed the drones were of the same type used by Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

The developments come amid a sharp military escalation in western Taiz on Thursday, marked by clashes, ballistic missile strikes, and drone attacks between government forces and the Houthis.

This flare-up is among the most intense rounds of fighting in Taiz since the UN-brokered truce of 2022, raising concerns from international observers about the risk of Yemen sliding back into full-scale conflict.

The Houthis have controlled the capital Sana’a and several other cities since September 2014, while the internationally recognized government and allied forces maintain authority over large parts of southern, eastern, and western Yemen.