The Yemeni armed forces announced on Saturday, 3 October 2026, that they had taken control of Sam'a Fort south-east of Taiz governorate following clashes with Houthi forces, in the latest field development on the governorate's fronts. A military source said the armed forces, backed by popular resistance fighters from Sam'a district, had seized the fort after what he described as fierce battles with the Houthis.
Houthi losses and fighters fleeing the area
The source added that, according to figures he announced, the operation had left dozens of Houthi fighters dead or wounded, while others had fled the area. The source did not provide a detailed breakdown of the numbers killed and wounded.
The capture of the fort came amid simultaneous military operations in Taiz governorate. The armed forces announced that they had carried out 71 targeting operations, which they said struck Houthi gatherings, combat build-ups and reinforcements. The operations covered the areas of Al-Aqrood, Sam'a, Al-Ahkoum, Al-Akboush, Jabal Rasin, Jabal Jirdad, Bani Omar, Bani Bakari, Al-Ka'awish and Al-Athawer, according to the armed forces' announcement.
Armed forces spokesman Majed Al-Nazili said the operations had destroyed a number of Houthi transport and support vehicles, neutralised some of their fighters and weakened the ability of their formations to continue fighting, in his words.
Al-Nazili said the armed forces were continuing to carry out their duties in Taiz, stressing that they would confront attempts by the Houthis to advance or impose a new reality on the ground in the governorate.
