Iran-backed Houthis on brink of taking Taiz in massive blow to Saudi Arabia | war latest news

Описание: The Iran-backed Houthis have encircled Yemen’s Taiz and are on the cusp of taking the strategic city for the first time in the war in what would be a major blow to Saudi Arabia.

On part two of today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, a Yemeni senior researcher from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, about why the Houthis are so desperate to capture Taiz as a stepping-stone to oil-rich Marib and port city Aden and how it could take just “days” to fall. With around a million people trapped inside and news of food and medicine shortages, a humanitarian disaster is looming and Iran’s proxy group is on the brink of a major victory.

Do Saudi Arabia or even the UAE have the capacity to stop Yemen sliding permanently into Tehran's sphere of control?

00:00:00 - Houthi Siege of Taiz: Military Frontline Update & Humanitarian Crisis
00:01:40 - Inside Taiz: Starlink Communications, Food Shortages & Street Warfare Risks 00:04:35 - Why the Houthis Want Taiz: Strategic Gateway to Aden & Oil-Rich Marib
00:08:00 - Is Taiz About to Fall? Army Disparity & Timeline Predictions
00:09:34 - Civilian Concerns: Food Insecurity & Humanitarian Toll Under Houthi Siege 00:11:18 - Symbolic Impact: The Psychological Blow to Yemen's Government
00:12:49 - Government Military Fragility: Lost Weapons & Inherited State Infrastructure 00:14:18 - Saudi Arabia’s Airstrikes & The Limits of Air Support in Yemen
00:15:11 - Saudi-UAE Rift: Differing Agendas, Separatists & The Muslim Brotherhood 00:18:17 - Will the UAE Re-Enter the Yemen War? Conditions & Regional Security

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies @maysaashujaa

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Houthis on brink of taking their biggest scalp
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new...

Con Coughlin: The Houthis are Europe’s problem
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026...

Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
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Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

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