Government forces, supported by local fighters, secured the mountain on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Yemen Armed Forces Media Center, Al Jazeera reported.
Major General Abdulaziz al-Majidi, chief of staff for the Taiz military axis, said government troops fought intense battles with Houthi forces, claiming that five Houthi fighters were killed and 20 wounded.
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He said the operation resulted in the “restoration of control” over Mount Qarfan.
The strategic mountain overlooks valleys between the ash-Shamaytaun and al-Waziiya districts in southern Taiz. Its capture would give government-aligned forces higher ground for surveillance and fire control over surrounding areas.
The Houthis have not immediately commented on the government forces’ claim.
The latest fighting comes amid renewed clashes in Yemen and heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.
The Houthis, who have reportedly taken control of parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the port of Mocha, have sought to advance toward the Kahboub Mountains in Taiz and neighbouring Lahj governorate.
The strategic highlands overlook the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Mayyun Island. Control of the area could potentially affect the connection between the Red Sea coast and government-held territory farther south.
Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said the Houthis may be seeking control of the mountains to strengthen their defensive position along the coast.
Faozi Al-Goidi, a visiting fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, said the mountains could serve as a defensive barrier protecting Houthi forces on the coast and potentially increase pressure on Lahj and, eventually, Aden.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said Tuesday that Houthi forces had shot down a reconnaissance drone over Mocha in Taiz governorate. He also claimed that Saudi aircraft had carried out 19 air strikes over the previous 24 hours in Taiz, al-Jawf and Marib governorates.
The government-aligned Yemeni News Agency separately reported that Houthi forces had shelled residential areas in central Taiz, damaging homes.
The World Health Organization said 674 people had been killed and nearly 3,000 injured in renewed fighting since August 6. Of those casualties, 164 deaths and 516 injuries were recorded between September 13 and 18, according to the WHO.
The escalation has also intensified Yemen’s displacement crisis. More than 158,000 people have been displaced this month, according to Yemen’s Executive Unit for the Management of Displaced Persons Camps.
Ibrahim Al-Huri, an assistant professor at the University of Saba Region, said civilians were bearing the greatest impact of the renewed violence, with some fleeing Yemen by sea for neighbouring Djibouti and Somalia.
He said thousands had crossed the sea in small boats while others had been forced into overcrowded displacement camps with limited access to food, water, sanitation and medical services.
