Yemeni government in military and diplomatic push to reverse Houthi gains

The Yemeni government suffered a significant blow earlier this month when it lost the country’s Red Sea coast to the Houthi rebels. It is now working on a two-pronged strategy, militarily and diplomatically, to restore the initiative and prevent the Houthis from consolidating their gains and pushing further into government-held territory. Saudi-backed government forces claimed on Tuesday to have seized the strategic Mount Qarafan in southern Taiz’s al-Shamayatayn district. The military reported killing five Iranian-allied Houthi fighters and injuring 20 others during the operation.