Houthis Accept UNSC Resolution 2216

Calling for Withdrawal of Houthi Forces from Areas Seized

The Houthis have accepted the UN Security Council Resolution 2216, passed on 14 April, which calls on the Houthis to unconditionally withdraw their forces from areas they have seized, including capital Sanaa. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday that the Houthis accepted the UNSC resolution in letter to the United Nations.

Houthis’ decision to accept the UNSC resolution was confirmed by former president Saleh’s General People’s Congress. Saleh has been a Houthi ally during the civil war in Yemen, which began when the Houthis took control of Sanaa in September 2014.  

The Houthi/Saleh representatives pledged to commit to the seven-point peace plan brokered by the UN in Oman, including ceasefire and the return of President Hadi’s government to Sanaa.

File photo: Al Jazeera

Yemen: PM Bahah Visits Bab al-Mandab Strait

Yemen’s Prime Minister Khaled Bahah visited the coast at Bab al-Mandab Strait, the strategic entrance to the Red Sea and the gateway to the Suez Canal, after the Saudi/UAE-led coalition forces pushed the Houthi/Saleh fighters out of the immediate area. (AP, 3 October)

The coalition officials say their fighters with air and naval support advanced against the insurgent forces on Saturday to retake control of access to Bab al-Mandab Strait. Saudi and Egyptian warships have been deployed off the coast of Yemen to secure the strategically vital strait.

Map credit: eoearth.org

Arab Coalition Seize Iranian Boat Carrying Weapons

14 Sailors Arrested

The Saudi/UAE-led coalition announced today the capture of an Iranian dhow carrying weapons last Saturday near Oman’s southeastern coast of Salalah, seizing a number of rockets and missiles, anti-tank missiles, armor-piercing shells, and weapon guidance systems. 14 sailors aboard the ship were also arrested. The boat was registered under an Iranian citizen’s name for fishing purposes. (Al Arabiya, 30 September)

“The type of weapons that were recovered on Saturday confirms Iran’s desire and intention to interfere in the war in Yemen,” said Saudi Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri, the coalition’s spokesman. (Al Hadath, 30 September)

There were no immediate comments from the Iranians. Iran has in the past tried to ship weapons directly to the Houthis in Yemen, but was prevented by coalition forces from entering Yemeni ports. If the details of today’s report are accurate, it shows Iran is shipping arms to Oman for possible land transfer to Yemen.

Photo credit: An Iranian shipping dhow seized near Omani coast of Salalah (Al Arabiyah) 
  

Yemen: Mareb Update

Saudi/UAE-led Popular Resistance forces claimed to have made strategic gains in eastern Mareb on Friday after fierce battles in Nakhla area in the oil-rich province with Houthi and pro-Saleh forces, Asharq Al-Awasat reported today.

“Fighting continued for more than three hours and different types of heavy weapons were employed in addition to aerial bombardment,” a source told the Pan-Arab newspaper.

AFP today also quoted a coalition official as saying that the offensive in Mareb province is making “slow but steady” progress.

Meanwhile, Saudi-led coalition intensified air raids on Sanaa on Friday, hitting a Republican Guard base and a military depot in south and west of capital.   

Photo credit: A UAE/Saudi-led coalition military vehicle drives through rocky terrain during an offensive against Houthi positions in Mareb province; 15 September 2015 (EPA/Asraq Al-Awsat)

UAE-led Anti-Houthi Forces Take Control of Mareb City

In a major victory for anti-Houthi forces, the UAE-led fighters today took control of Mareb City in the center of Yemen, breaking the Houthi siege of the strategic town and pushing the Houthi/Saleh forces into the surrounding mountains, AP reported. Mareb City is 200 km (125 miles) from Sanaa, the country’s capital that was captured by the Houthis last September. Now the advance of the offensive forces toward Sanaa, if they choose to launch it, could be slowed down due to the mountainous terrain between them and the capital.

Map: Yementourism.com

Yemen’s Exiled Government: No Talks Until Houthis Withdraw

Arab-led Coalition Launch Major Offensive in Mareb

President Hadi’s exiled government said today it will not participate in UN-brokered peace talks later this week unless the Houthis, Ansar Allah, accept the UN Security Council Resolution 2216, which calls on the Houthis to withdraw from territories they’ve captured since last September, including the capital Sanaa.

The Houthis and their allies, former president Saleh, who ruled over Yemen for 33 years before being forced from power in 2012, and army units still loyal to him, have so far not accepted the UN resolution and continue their hold on some of the territories they had captured, including Sanaa. Since then, a Saudi/UAE-led anti-Houthi coalition has pushed them out of southern provinces, including the post city of Aden. Hadi’s government, however, had said on Friday it would attend the UN meeting in Muscat, Oman, but are now the start of the talks is contingent on Houthi acceptance of UNSC resolution.   

Meanwhile, the news agencies are reporting that Saudi/UAE-led collation forces launched a major offensive with 12,000 fighters against the Houthi/Saleh forces in Mareb province to break the Houthi siege of Mareb city and push them out of the province. Mareb lies 200 km (125 miles) east of Sanaa, on a major highway linking the city to the capital. The control of Mareb by coalition forces will be one of the biggest defeats for the Houthis in the yearlong civil war.

Photo credit: Taez during clashes between Yemeni exiled government and Houthi forces; 9 September 2015 (@Ahmad al-Bash/AFP/France24)

Egypt Deploys Ground Forces to Yemen

As many as 800 Egyptian soldiers arrived in Yemen late on Tuesday, Reuters reported today. This is the first reported deployment of ground forces by Egypt in the Yemeni conflict. Four Egyptian Army companies, each with 150-200 troops, along with tanks and armored vehicles were deployed, Egyptian security sources told the news agency.

On Monday, Qatar also announced the deployment of 1,000 troops along with 200 armored vehicles and 30 Apache combat helicopters to Yemen. The Qataris and Egyptians will join forces in a coalition with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain to fight the Houthi-Saleh alliance to retake the territories captured by the insurgents.

Yemeni officials had put the number of troops from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain to more than 2,000 (Reuters, 9 September). With the deployment of the Egyptian troops that number has now increased to around 3,000. A few thousands of Yemeni militia fighters trained by the Saudis had also been deployed to Yemen. These forces join local militia and tribal fighters in a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the war against Houthi/Saleh alliance, which is backed by Iran.

UPDATE: An unnamed Egyptian official told a local TV channel that Reuters report on Egypt deploying up to 800 troops to Yemen is incorrect. 

File photo: Egyptian troops; Cairo, November 2014 (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

Qatar Deploys 1,000 Troops to Support Saudi/UAE-led Offensive in Yemen

Qatar has deployed 1,000 ground forces backed by 200 armored vehicles and 30 Apache combat helicopters in Yemen to support Saudi/UAE-led offensive against the Houthi and Saleh forces, Al Jazeera reported today.

The Qatari forces are now heading to Yemen’s Mareb province to join the Saudi/UAE-led coalition to break the siege of Mareb city by Houthi and Saleh forces. This is the first time that Qatar is deploying troops in Yemen to support the anti-Houthi offensive.

Al Jazeera reports that more Qatari troops will be deployed in Yemen. The new force is expected to secure the Jawf governorate.

Meanwhile, UAE conducted bombardment of Houthi/Saleh military bases in Nahdain and Fajj Attan hills in Sanaa in the heaviest of the six-month-old air campaign on Sunday. Also targeted were Houthi positions in northern areas of Sufan and al-Nahda. UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain lost 61 soldiers on Friday when their camp’s weapons depot was exploded after being hit by a missile fired by the Houthis.

File Photo: Qatari troops marching (Getty Images/Al Jazeera)

UAE Launches Airstrike on Houthi Camp in Sanaa

Airstrikes from a UAE-Saudi coalition destroyed a key Houthi and Saleh encampment in the Yemeni capital, the headquarters of the Special Security Forces, on Sunday, with columns of grey smoke rising from downtown Sanaa. The warplanes also targeted weapons caches in the mountains of Noqum and Ayban, east and west of Sanaa. (AP, 6 September)

UAE’s Ministry of Interior posted videos on its Instagram account of Emirati fighter jets targeting the Houthi targets on Sunday. The airstrikes began after an official mourning period following the death of 46 UAE servicemen killed in their camp in Mareb hit by Houthi rocket. 10 Saudi and five Bahraini soldiers were also killed in the attack.

UPDATE: Coalition warplanes conducted three airstrikes against the Presidential Palace in Sanaa on Sunday.

Photo credit: Reuters/The National

ISIL Claims Responsibility for Mosque Attack

28 Dead in Sanaa Attack

The Yemen’s branch of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for two bombings today at a Shia mosque in northern Sanaa, killing 28 people and wounding 75. (Saba News Agency/Reuters, 2 September)

The al-Moayyad Mosque, run by the Houthis, has previously been targeted by ISIL, who regards the Houthis as heretics.

The Houthis, or the Ansar Allah, took control of Sanaa by force last September, starting a civil war in Yemen that was escalated in March when a coalition of Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, intervened militarily to retake territories captured by the insurgents. More than 4,500 people have been killed in the conflict since Sanaa takeover a year ago.

File photo: The scene after a deadly attack at al-Moayyad Mosque in March 2015. Today ISIL took responsibility for double bombings targeting the same mosque; 28 people killed, 75 wounded.

Recent Saudi/UAE combat losses in the Yemen conflict (2)

Second installment of imagery depicting Saudi/UAE combat losses inflicted by Ansarullah or allied Yemeni Army forces, during the current Yemen conflict:

Royal Saudi Land Force M1 Abrams type main battle tank, captured and subsequently destroyed by Ansarullah forces at a Saudi military base near Jizan.

Second view of captured and subsequently destroyed Royal Saudi Land Force M1 Abrams type main battle tank

Saudi military Gurkha rapid patrol vehicle (RPV), abandoned and captured near Jizan by Ansarullah or allied forces

Royal Saudi Land Force M1 Abrams type main battle tank near Jizan, hit and destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces operating ATGM.

Royal Saudi Land Force M1 Abrams type main battle tank destroyed by Ansarullah or allied Yemeni Army forces, among three AFVs destroyed at this position near Jizan.

Saudi Toyota-platform LTV and Gurkha rapid patrol vehicle (RPV) destroyed by Ansarullah or allied Yemeni Army forces, apparent victims of ambush near Jizan.

United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces in the Mukayris region

United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces in the Mukayris region

United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATVs destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces in the Mukayris region

United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces in the Mukayris region

Remains of Schiebel Camcopter S-100 unmanned air vehicle (UAV) believed operated by United Arab Emirates military, downed by Ansarullah or allied Yemeni Army forces in the Mukayris region.

Sana'a government imagery of Scud-type ballistic missile, launched by Yemeni Army on 26AUG15 in the direction of Jizan, at same time Yemeni Army opened up with BM-27 Uragan MLRS artillery on Najran Domestic Airport.

Sana'a government claimed imagery of Scud-type ballistic missile launch on 26AUG15, in the direction of Jizan

Recent Saudi/UAE combat losses in the Yemen conflict (1)

Social media depictions of recent Saudi/UAE combat losses inflicted by Ansarallah/Yemeni Army forces in the Yemen conflict:

Major General Abdul Rahman Al-Shahrani, commander of 18th Infantry Brigade of Saudi Arabian Army reportedly KIA with members of RSLF on 23AUG15 by elements of Yemeni Army in Jizan province, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and armored wheel loader, knocked out and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force M88A1 Recovery Vehicle (ARV), disabled and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force Al Shibl 2 (“Cub 2”) armored vehicle, knocked out and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force wheel loader, knocked out and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia

Small arms and equipment, thrown down by fleeing Royal Saudi Land Force troops at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and unidentified fighting vehicle, knocked out and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia..

Doomed Saudi AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, shot down by Ansarullah forces in the district of Harad, in the western Yemeni province of Hajjah.

Ansarullah forces operating Kornet ATGM against Royal Saudi Land Force AFVs at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia

Royal Saudi Land Force AFVs being targeted by Ansarullah forces operating Kornet ATGM, at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Knocked out United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, location: Mukayras, in southern Yemen.

Abandoned United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, location: Mukayras, in southern Yemen.

Knocked out United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, location: Mukayras, in southern Yemen.

Knocked out United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, location: Mukayras, in southern Yemen.

OTR-21 Tochka (NATO: SS-21 Scarab) mobile missile launch system captured by Ansarullah forces

OTR-21 Tochka (NATO: SS-21 Scarab) mobile missile launch system captured and fired by Ansarullah forces

Ansarullah or allied force member. Note the Republic of Yemen tricolor. The primary local force of the Saudi/UAE led coalition fly the flag of South Yemen, not the flag of the Republic of Yemen.

Heavy Fighting in Yemen

Reports appearing in social media this morning indicate the UAE-led Yemeni resistance forces are on the move westward on Hwy N5 and are reaching Mareb (photo above).

A Twitter report says the UAE-led force, with Saudi helicopter air support, had entered Hadramaut’s town of Al Abr, in central-eastern Yemen, before heading west toward Mareb. If the report is confirmed, the offensive forces could have crossed into Yemen’s Hadramaut from Saudi border crossing of Al Wudaydah, traveling more than 300 km (nearly 200 miles) on roads through Hadramaut desert to reach Mareb. In fact, a Twitter post said a large force was rumored to cross Al Wudaydah toward Mareb. (Twitter/@omeisy, 22 August)

There were no reports of fighting and resistance by Houthi/Saleh forces against the offensive force reaching Mareb. Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, lies 200 km (125 miles) to the west of Mareb on N5 Hwy, a major road that can support Arab coalition’s heavy military equipment. The offensive could be the initial phase of the retaking of Sanaa by the Arab coalition-led forces.

Meanwhile, there are reports of heavy Houthi artillery fire at Southern Resistance positions inside the city of Taiz and Saudi airstrikes against Houthi position around the city, causing heavy casualties. The Houthis have been attempting to recapture Taiz, 330 km (205 miles) south of Sanaa. The resistance forces last week took control of the city and its Republic palace.

Social media also are publishing photos of Saudi commandoes disembarking from helicopters in Saada province, reportedly attacking Raghat Mountain hiding place of Houthi chief Abdul Malik Al Houthi.

UPDATE: AP quoting security officials reported Saturday night that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants have seized control of key areas in and around Aden. If confirmed, this would a major gain for AQAP, which has been making inroads amid chaos of the country’s civil war.

Photo credit: A twitter photo showing a UAE-led column of anti-Houthi fighters near Mareb, 125 miles east of Sanaa (Twitter/@Yemen_Updates, 22 August)