World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Fighting near Taiz worsens waste and sanitation crisis
Yemeni government forces and Houthi fighters clashed on Wednesday on the western outskirts of Taiz, Yemen.
The government said its forces repelled the attack and struck Houthi positions, vehicles and a missile launchpad.
Houthi forces have largely encircled Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, and cut key supply routes, including the main road to Aden.
Restricted access to the city’s landfill has stopped sanitation workers from taking rubbish away, so waste has piled up on streets and some has been burned there.
Fuel shortages are disrupting water pumps, hospitals and waste collection, raising fears of disease outbreaks.
A Taiz health official also warned of growing health and environmental risks, while a report estimated that 600,000 residents face a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The clashes and supply restrictions are deepening risks for residents and patients, but no next steps were stated.
Yemeni government forces and allied Popular Resistance fighters clashed with Houthi fighters on Taiz’s western outskirts on Wednesday, 21 October.
The internationally recognised government said its forces repelled the attack and reported air strikes on Houthi positions.
Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, is largely encircled by Houthi forces, which have cut key supply routes, including the main road to Aden.
Restrictions on access to the main landfill have disrupted rubbish collection, while fuel shortages have affected water pumps, hospitals and waste services.
The disruptions have raised concerns about health risks for residents and patients in health facilities.
- Who
- Yemeni government forces and allied Popular Resistance fighters clashed with Houthi fighters.
- What
- Fighting broke out on Taiz’s outskirts. The government said its forces repelled the attack.
- When
- Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
- Where
- The western outskirts of Taiz, near the old airport and Jabal Han mountain.
- Why
- Taiz is under pressure from Houthi forces, which have largely encircled the city and cut key supply routes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Government forces and allied Popular Resistance fighters clashed with Houthi fighters on Taiz’s western outskirts.
Detik reported that the Houthi siege and restricted access to the Al-Saleh disposal site had disrupted rubbish collection in Taiz.
- City
- Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city
- Clash date
- Wednesday, 21 October 2026
- Clash location
- Western outskirts, near the old airport and Jabal Han mountain
- Main supply route
- Road to Aden, the interim capital of the internationally recognised government
- Waste disposal site
- Al-Saleh
2 sources
What people are saying
If we don’t die from Houthi shelling, we’ll die from this rubbish.