Yemen's Taiz, the country's third-largest city, is facing a renewed siege after Houthi forces advanced on roads that connect it to the rest of the country, cutting off the flow of food and fuel. Residents say the closures have triggered shortages within days, with prices for basic goods climbing sharply as supply routes narrow. Taiz has been a frontline city for much of Yemen's decade-long civil war, and older residents describe the current closures as reminiscent of the grinding siege the city endured earlier in the conflict.

The renewed pressure on Taiz follows weeks of escalating fighting between Houthi forces and the internationally recognised Yemeni government, which recently declared an all-out effort to reclaim territory from the group. The United Nations has said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in recent weeks, and aid agencies have repeatedly warned that further disruption to supply lines would deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis across the country.

Local officials in Taiz say they are seeking alternative routes to bring in supplies, though options remain limited given the surrounding terrain and the intensity of the fighting. Humanitarian groups have called for safe passage for aid convoys, while diplomats involved in stalled peace efforts say the siege underscores the urgency of a durable ceasefire. No timeline for reopening the roads has been given.