Yemen's Saudi-backed government on Sunday announced a new military operation to retake territory held by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as fighting intensified around the key southwestern city of Taiz.

"Today, I announce the start of military operations to retake the remaining territory of the republic and extend the authority of the state and its institutions across the entire national territory," Yemeni Presidential Council chief Rashad al-Alimi said in a televised address.

The announcement came after Houthi fighters captured a key road linking Taiz with the government-held city of Aden, effectively isolating Taiz. The rebels have besieged Taiz for more than a decade.

More than 70 people were reportedly killed in fighting around Taiz over the past day, according to AFP news agency.

How did the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Houthis escalate?

The latest developments come amid an escalation between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government in Yemen that is supported by Saudi Arabia, reviving Yemen's civil war after a four-year ceasefire.

A 2022 truce between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia collapsed in July after the rebels allowed an Iranian plane to land in Yemen's capital Sanaa, which defied the Saudis' control over Yemeni airspace.

As a result of the escalation, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.

Last month, the Houthis seized Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a vital global shipping route — from government hands, even as Al-Alimi called for support from the international community.

The Houthis have controlled Sanaa and much of Yemen's more populous western areas since the start of Yemen's civil war in 2014.

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher

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