Al-Jawf becomes new hotspot in Yemen war between government forces, Houthis

Recent military advances by Yemeni government forces highlight the geographic and strategic significance of Al-Jawf Governorate.

Yemeni government forces fire a truck-mounted rifle during battles against the Houthis on the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz, October 21, 2026 [Ahmad al-Basha/AFP]

Al-Jawf has become a new focal point in the conflict between forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthis, highlighting the strategic importance of the northern governorate.

A major counteroffensive has been launched by the Yemeni government army and forces loyal to it to capture the strategic heights east of the provincial capital, al-Hazm, from the Houthis.

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The operations are part of Operation Dawn of Yemen, launched by the government last month to reverse Houthi territorial gains and restore state control in the country.

Al-Hazm has become a central part of this operation, with the city a potential launchpad for government forces against the Houthis. They have controlled the capital Sanaa and most of northern Yemen since the war broke out in September 2014.

Strategic defence lines

During the 12 years of war in Yemen, control over al-Hazm has shifted several times, with the Houthis seizing the city in March 2020.

The governorate remains highly coveted due to its expansive border with Saudi Arabia and its direct geographic links to five pivotal governorates: Hadramout, Saada, Sanaa, Amran and oil-rich Marib and close to the capital, Sanaa.

Al-Jawf also acts as a vital defensive shield for Marib, controlled by government forces, preventing the Houthis from advancing into the eastern regions. It is also a gateway to major Houthi strongholds in northern Yemen.

Video screengrab is said to show Houthi fighters attacking Saudi-backed forces in Al-Jawf governorate, September 15, 2026 [Houthi Military Handout via Reuters]

Field Commander Colonel Rabie Al-Qurashi said government forces have been able to win complete control over the strategic Huwaishan mountain range, east of al-Hazm city. He said it is the first line of defence for the Houthis in the eastern axis and control over the rugged region would give government forces the ability to disrupt rebel supply routes.

“Government forces succeeded in breaking that defensive format with partial control over the Al-Alam front road,” Al-Qurashi said. “The government advance represents a beginning to tighten the noose on the Houthis in the upper al-Labanat camp,” which is regarded as a vital eastern gateway to Sanaa.

Ali Al-Dahab, a military and strategic affairs researcher, said there are immense tactical benefits from holding this elevated terrain.

“The recent advances of government forces in Al-Jawf are a military transformation that serves the course of future operations for their arrival to al-Hazm city,” Al-Dahab told Al Jazeera.

“The government forces’ recovery of a number of heights there provides a military and psychological morale advantage and confuses the Houthis’ decisions, in addition to granting government forces monitoring, movement, and observation of Houthi supply lines and securing their own lines.”

Military spokesman Majed Abdullah Al-Nuzaili said on X that recent military operations against Houthi positions in al-Jawf were “inflicting losses on the militia’s capabilities”.

Desert battleground dynamics

The government dominates the vast eastern desert district of Khabb wa ash Sha’af, representing 82 percent of the governorate’s total area. The Houthis control the provincial capital, al-Hazm, and 10 other districts.

Security and political affairs researcher Brigadier General Ahmed Al-Awadhi stressed the importance of “continuous but not rapid” government advances in the area.

“The advances of government forces in Al-Jawf cannot be ignored or their importance underestimated,” Al-Awadhi told Al Jazeera.

“Control over heights or mountain ranges in the desert Al-Jawf governorate represents points of military strength regardless of their proximity to or distance from the governorate capital.”

The government forces advances in al-Jawf highlight a historical vulnerability for the Houthis, having suffered repeated defeats in battles in desert and open areas, he added.

The developments coincide with the Presidential Council’s appointment of Major General Amin Ali Al-Akimi as governor and military commander of al-Jawf.

“[His] reappointment… comes within the context of restructuring the theatre of operations and unifying the front,” Ibrahim Jalal, a Yemen-focused analyst told Al Jazeera.

“Hailing from Dhu Hussein, a branch of the Daham Bakil tribe, Al-Akimi possesses tribal and military influence that could help mobilise tribes, overcome divisions and bolster momentum on the ground. However, translating this influence into sustainable gains remains contingent upon unifying command and control, coordinating operations across all battlefronts, securing military and logistical support and strengthening anti-corruption efforts to improve the efficient management of military resources.”

The Houthis say they have thwarted advances by government forces in al-Jawf and Marib.

Escalating nationwide hostilities

Fighting has continued in other parts of Yemen as Houthi-affiliated media reported air strikes on an oil company facility in the Bajil district of Hodeidah, which coincide with fierce fighting further south.

Government forces repelled Houthi attacks in al-Aqroudh and on the Tur al-Baha front in Lahij governorate. Intense fighting continues in Taiz governorate.

The siege of Taiz City continues to strain medical infrastructure, with deliveries of food and fuel severely restricted. Civilians remain at risk from sniper fire from surrounding hillsides, authorities have warned.

Governor Nabil Shamsan said that hospitals are working at only 20 percent capacity, with 120 health centres entirely shut due to the siege.

“We urge the international community to secure at least one safe route between Taiz and Aden to enable citizen movement and the smooth entry of services, essential materials and goods,” Shamsan appealed to Al Jazeera.

More than 300,000 people have fled their homes in western Yemen due to the escalating fighting, leaving civilians highly vulnerable.

也门政府军近期取得的军事进展凸显了焦夫省的地理和战略重要性。

2026年10月21日，也门政府军在塔伊兹市以西的贾巴尔汉前线与胡塞武装交战时，使用车载步枪射击。[艾哈迈德·巴沙/法新社]

焦夫省已成为也门国际公认政府与胡塞武装之间冲突的新焦点，凸显了该北部省份的战略重要性。

也门政府军及其效忠部队已发起大规模反攻，旨在从胡塞武装手中夺取省会哈兹姆以东的战略高地。

联合国称，也门新战乱导致29万人流离失所，孕妇面临风险（列表1/3）

也门政府军在焦夫地区夺取战略要地（共3个，此为第2个）

沙特领导的联军在也门焦夫省拦截了一枚导弹，战斗仍在激烈进行（共3条记录，此为第3条）。

这些行动是也门政府上个月发起的“也门黎明行动”的一部分，旨在扭转胡塞武装的领土扩张，恢复国家对也门的控制。

哈兹姆已成为此次行动的核心，该市可能成为政府军打击胡塞武装的跳板。自2014年9月战争爆发以来，胡塞武装一直控制着首都萨那和也门北部的大部分地区。

战略防线

在也门长达 12 年的战争中，哈兹姆的控制权几经易手，胡塞武装于 2020 年 3 月占领了该市。

由于该省与沙特阿拉伯接壤的广阔边界，并且与五个关键省份（哈德拉毛、萨达、萨那、阿姆兰和石油资源丰富的马里卜）有直接的地理联系，而且靠近首都萨那，因此该省仍然备受觊觎。

焦夫省也是政府军控制的马里卜市的重要防御屏障，阻止胡塞武装向东部地区推进。它同时也是通往也门北部胡塞武装主要据点的门户。

据称，视频截图显示，2026年9月15日，胡塞武装在焦夫省袭击了沙特支持的部队。[胡塞武装通过路透社提供]

野战指挥官拉比·库拉什上校表示，政府军已完全控制了位于哈兹姆市以东的战略要地胡瓦伊山山脉。他指出，该山脉是胡塞武装在东部战线的第一道防线，控制这片崎岖的地区将使政府军能够切断叛军的补给线。

“政府军成功打破了胡塞武装的防御阵型，部分控制了阿拉姆前线公路，”库拉什说。“政府军的推进标志着开始收紧对拉巴纳特上游营地胡塞武装的包围圈，”该营地被认为是通往萨那的重要东部门户。

军事和战略事务研究员阿里·达哈卜表示，占领这片高地具有巨大的战术优势。

“政府军最近在焦夫省的推进是一次军事转型，为他们未来进军哈兹姆市的行动奠定了基础，”达哈卜告诉半岛电视台。

“政府军收复了那里的一些高地，这不仅为政府军提供了军事和心理上的士气优势，扰乱了胡塞武装的决策，还使政府军能够监视、观察胡塞武装的补给线，并确保自身防线的安全。”

军方发言人马吉德·阿卜杜拉·努扎伊利在X电视台表示，最近针对胡塞武装在焦夫省阵地的军事行动“正在削弱该民兵的实力”。

沙漠战场动态

政府控制着广袤的东部沙漠地区哈布瓦沙夫，该地区占该省总面积的82%。胡塞武装控制着省会哈兹姆以及其他10个地区。

安全和政治事务研究员艾哈迈德·阿瓦迪准将强调了政府在该地区“持续但不迅速”取得进展的重要性。

“政府军在焦夫省的进展不容忽视，其重要性也不容低估，”阿瓦迪告诉半岛电视台。

“控制焦夫省沙漠中的高地或山脉，无论其与省会城市距离远近，都代表着军事力量的象征。”

他补充说，政府军在焦夫省的推进凸显了胡塞武装历史上的弱点，他们在沙漠和开阔地带的战斗中屡遭失败。

这一事态发展恰逢总统委员会任命阿明·阿里·阿基米少将为焦夫省省长兼军事指挥官。

“（他的）重新任命……是在重组战区和统一战线的背景下进行的，”专注于也门问题的分析师易卜拉欣·贾拉勒告诉半岛电视台。

“阿基米出身于达哈姆·巴基勒部落的杜侯赛因分支，拥有部落和军事影响力，这有助于动员各部落、克服分歧并增强地面战势。然而，将这种影响力转化为可持续的成果，仍然取决于统一指挥控制、协调所有战线的行动、确保军事和后勤支持以及加强反腐败工作，从而提高军事资源的有效管理。”

胡塞武装称，他们挫败了政府军在焦夫省和马里卜省的推进。

全国范围内的敌对行动不断升级

也门其他地区的战斗仍在继续，胡塞武装控制的媒体报道称，荷台达巴吉尔区的一家石油公司设施遭到空袭，与此同时，南部地区也爆发了激烈的战斗。

政府军在阿克鲁德和拉赫季省的图尔巴哈前线击退了胡塞武装的进攻。塔伊兹省的激战仍在继续。

塔伊兹市的围困持续给医疗基础设施带来巨大压力，食品和燃料的供应也受到严重限制。当局警告称，平民仍然面临来自周围山坡狙击手的威胁。

纳比勒·沙姆桑州长表示，医院的运转能力仅为 20%，由于围困，120 个医疗中心完全关闭。

“我们敦促国际社会确保塔伊兹和亚丁之间至少有一条安全通道，以便公民能够自由流动，并保障服务、必需品和货物的顺利进入，”沙姆桑向半岛电视台呼吁道。

由于也门西部战事升级，超过 30 万人逃离家园，导致平民极易受到伤害。