Houthi advance largely encircles Yemen’s Taiz, raising fears of a new siege

Houthi rebels have largely encircled Taiz after capturing a key town on Oct.

4, cutting most supply access from government-held areas.

Taiz is Yemen’s third-largest city, in the country’s southwest, and has more than 1 million residents.

The city was besieged for years earlier in Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014 after Houthi forces seized the north and much of the west, including the capital, Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia later led a coalition backing the internationally recognized government.

Residents are already facing shortages and rising prices as fuel and cooking gas run low and people stock up on food and essentials.

Fighting in the surrounding mountains and strikes in the city have revived memories of the earlier siege.

If the siege continues, food stocks could run out, according to a local child protection consultant.

The sources do not say what will happen next militarily.