Eerfan Ganeyi-Fard, a Middle East analyst, said that despite advances by government forces around Taiz, it is still not possible to speak of a definite shift in the balance of power, because the Houthis have still retained their missile capabilities and their ability to threaten Saudi Arabia.

He added that sustained control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait could increase pressure on the Houthis and reduce the Islamic Republic’s ability to use this group to create instability in the region.