Taiz:Yemeni government forces captured the Samea fortress in the southwestern Taiz province on Saturday following intense clashes with Houthi fighters.

According to Anadolu Agency, a military source reported that dozens of Houthi fighters were killed and injured during the clashes, while others fled the scene.

The capture of the fortress marks a significant advancement in securing all routes leading to Taiz and blocking Houthi efforts to outflank government forces and strengthen their defensive lines.

Earlier on Saturday, the Yemeni army reported fierce clashes with Houthis across several fronts in Taiz, alongside airstrikes targeting the group's positions and reinforcements. Military spokesman Majed al-Nuzaili stated that 71 strikes had been conducted against Houthi concentrations, combat buildups, and reinforcements in several areas of the province.

Additionally, the Yemeni army's media center announced that air defenses had shot down four Houthi drones on the Al-Shahla front in eastern Al-Jawf province in northern Yemen.

There was no immediate response from the Houthis regarding the loss of Samea fortress or the downing of the drones. This escalation in fighting comes after a period of relative calm following a UN-brokered truce in April 2022, which began to unravel in July of this year.