Taiz – Intense fighting erupted late Sunday night between Yemeni government forces and Houthi militants in the western outskirts of Taiz, resulting in the death of a prominent Houthi field commander and the injury of a government soldier, according to military sources.

Field reports confirmed that Abu Ali Al-Raimi, a senior Houthi figure overseeing operations in the Shar’ab junction and Al-Sitteen areas, was killed during the confrontations. 

Al-Raimi was reportedly responsible for coordinating militia movements and logistics in the volatile western front of the city.

The clashes, which broke out amid heightened tensions and military build-up in the region, are part of a broader escalation between the internationally recognized government and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. 

The government’s National Army reported that one of its soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange, though the full extent of casualties on both sides remains unclear.

Abu Ali Al-Raimi was considered a key strategist within the Houthi ranks in Taiz, a city that has long been a flashpoint in Yemen’s protracted civil war. His death is expected to deal a blow to the group’s command structure in the area, potentially altering the balance of power along the western front.

Military analysts suggest that the recent flare-up may signal a renewed push by government forces to reclaim territory in Taiz, which has been under partial siege by Houthi forces for years. The city remains strategically vital due to its location between the Houthi-controlled north and the southern provinces loyal to the government.

The Yemeni conflict, now in its tenth year, continues to inflict a heavy toll on civilians, with Taiz among the hardest-hit areas. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly called for de-escalation and unimpeded access to deliver aid to besieged communities.

No official statement has yet been issued by the Houthi leadership regarding Al-Raimi’s death.