(for the high-resolution full size map please go to http://southfront.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/yemen-august-6-13.jpg)
SouthFront commentary:
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Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State (ISIS) have already used the recent success of the Saudi Arabia-led forces to increase their territorial control and boost their actions in central and southern Yemen. The US and Saudi Arabia believe the coalition’s recent series of victories will push different Saudi-backed militant groups to commit to self-styled Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Nonetheless, militant group leaders clearly understand that the only reason for the recent success is strong support from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates armored units. So, the separatist Southern Resistance won’t state an official allegiance to the Saudi Arabian doll Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
- August 6, Al Houthi forces increased attacks along the Saudi Arabian-Yemeni border. The main attacks were concentrated at the Saudi border provinces of Jizan and Najran. Earlier, Al Houthi forces allegedly shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter in the Haradh region of the Saudi-Yemeni border on August 5. Meanwhile, the Saudi-trained forces and armored vehicles were deployed from the town of Sharura and are advancing through Ma’rib and Shabwah in preparation for an attack on Sana’a.
- August 6, Egypt agreed to deploy naval troops to assist in guarding ports controlled by Saudi forces and train pro-Hadi militants to protect the Bab al Mandab sea-lane.
- August 6-10, AQAP militants launched a series of attacks against al Houthi positions in Jabal al Hama, Jabal Hirmaz, al Zahar, Dhi Na’im, and al Bayda city in al Bayda on August 6 and from August 8 to August 10. Separately, AQAP militants raised black flags as a sign of control in Lahij and Aden. Earlier, they took the government palace in al Hawta city, after pro-Haid forces seized it on August 4. Also, AQAP seized the towns of Rabat, al Lahoum, and al Masaabin in Aden on August 5. The militants established military bases there.
- August 4-7, Al Houthi government and their allies and the Saudi Arabia-led coalition with its puppet Hadi’s government continue efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict with a “diplomatic approach”. UN Special Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed claimed that Saudi Arabia responded favorably to the Yemeni peace plan. The UN stated on August 4 that the Arab League was ready to send international observers to Yemen if Hadi forces and the Yemeni government could negotiate a ceasefire. An Omani plane arrived at Sana’a International Airport to transport an Al Houthi delegation to meet with Ahmed in Muscat, Oman on August 7. Nonetheless, the offensive of the Saudi-led forces continued.
- August 11-12, Pro-Hadi militants supported by the Saudi-led forces have built up significant momentum in Yemen. At the same time, Southern Resistance militants greatly assisted by Saudi-operated armored nits, have renewed their efforts after capturing Aden, pushing north and northeast from the port city. They captured Lahj and al-Anad air base last week and are advancing. The Southern Resistance militants recently captured the city of Zinjibar. This allows them to push farther into the Abyan governorate where they intend to link up with another part of Saudi-backed forces locked in battle with the Yemeni government and Saleh-aligned forces near Lawder. The Houthis and forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh are in an precarious position after the loss of several localities in the Ibb nd Dhamar regions. It pushed them to fortify their position at the cities of Taiz and Ibb.
- August 13-14, Saudi forces reported the advance is heading toward third city Taez, southwest of Sanaa.
Yemen’s capital, Sanaa remains under the Houthi governments control, but Saudi-led forces have come to within 100 kilometers of the city, as well as invading from the Dhamar governorate to the south. oalition-backed Yemeni fighters are massed in Marib, 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Sanaa, having
moved in from Saudi Arabia via the al-Wadiya border crossing earlier this month. Before moving on the capital, coalition-backed forces are likely to neutralize the surrounding area first, defeating Houthi and Saleh elements in the key popular centers of Taiz, Ibb and Dhamar.
While AQAP continues to benefit from the Saudi Arabia-led coalition’s campaign as its ally in the war against Yemeni government, ISIS has been preparing to turn Yemen into another Syria. ISIS has already strengthened recruitment in the center and south of the country. Furthermore, reports have been circulating that ISIS is preparing to mount a siege on Rada’a, al Bayda. If ISIS seizes Rada’a, this move will undermine the Saudi-backed AQAP’s role as “protector of the Sunni people” and enable ISIS to become the most powerful terrorist network in the region. The US will have one more state where it could intervene on the pretense of a “War on Terror”.
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Will the Houthi militias retreat and resort to guerrilla style warfare and attempt to suck the Saudis deeper into their stronghold areas? If anybody has any insights I would appreciate it, it doesn’t look good for them or the people of Yemen right now.
It appears to me the best thing for the Houthi forces would be to effect a delaying tactic in Yemen’s front lines.While speeding up the attack on Saudi Arabia itself.Bring the war to the Saudi heartland (ISIS style of far reaching assaults).I believe the reason the Saudis now say they will support a ceasefire is because of the attacks on themselves.Increase those attacks ten-fold.Let them know that as the Saudi-backed forces advance in Yemen the Houthi forces will advance in Saudi Arabia.Bring the “fire and sword” to the Saudi homeland.That will terrify them,and might make them negotiate in good faith (for once).If not at least they will feel the retribution they so richly deserve in their own lair.And if the Houthi can somehow inspire a rebellion in the Shia Northeast of Saudi Arabia it could be the end for the House of Saud.
I think the Houthis are losing big. The forces they face are far stronger. Iran cannot get help to them. The focus is in Syria, and Yemen is a back burner conflict.
It is like a war that got too big too fast. Similar to Donbass. Logic says the Russians could have won the conflict in 3 days. Same with Yemen. Iran could help them win swiftly. But reality is otherwise.
The Houthis were not clever to delay this until they could hold of SA, Egpyt, Gulf States coalition and the Hegemon. Did they really think the US would let Iran resupply by sea?
Who is running their strategy? Strelkov?
There is no rescuing the Houthis.
It is a mistake, I believe, to think of the Houthi as being proxies of the Iranians.They have some common interests (i.e.enemies), but except for the Iranians providing a small amount of aid that is about it.While its true both are Shia,the sects of Shia are different and the Shia are not monolithic in any way.So while the Iranians support them with propaganda.And a certain pan-Shia feeling,that is about it.The Saudis paint them as Iranian allies for their own purposes.
how do you know the Houthis are defeated, you have been reading Saudi sponsored MSM.
Here is a link for the confict in Yemen by people who in the know
http://www.iranmilitaryforum.net/index.php?topic=1233.0#msg305039
Things are not looking good but its always easy to win a military conflict, its what comes next that is the hard part. Saudi’s are having a budget deficit for the first time ever this year and are eating into their massive surplus of extra money. The projected deficit translates into around $130 billion.
But keep in mind they still have 683 billion as of the end of April. So it will take a few years to burn through that. I agree about with the more attacks in Saudi proper as a strategy. However they need to destroy as much of that armor as possible. They need to adopt guerrilla tactics, but i think too much of the lands they took over were nothing more then tolerant of them so its not likely small groups can stay back to create that situation as the locals will rat them out. Only on their home turf can that be possible.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Regional/2015/Jun-03/300296-saudi-arabia-to-post-massive-budget-deficit-imf.ashx
I don’t see a link to the source. Mod ME
OT:
Genocide Advocate Appointed Israeli UN Envoy
Israel is run by a fanatical criminal gang of lunatics – genocidists wanting greater Israel for Jews alone, Arabs entirely eliminated from areas they want ethnically pure.
It’s permanently at war with Palestine, terrorizing defenseless civilians, mass slaughtering them at its discretion, brutalizing children like adults, attacking Palestinian fishermen a reported 1312 times since Operation Protective Edge ended last August.
Likudnik Danny Danon is a notorious racist – an outspoken opponent of Palestinian self-determination. Netanyahu sacked him last summer as deputy defense minister for calling Operation Protective Edge too soft on Gaza.
He urged greater genocide than than already inflicted. “We should have given the order to the army to clean up Gaza,” he said. Form your own judgment on what he meant.
He issued a statement rejecting ceasefire, claiming “Hamas is once again setting conditions for us. We must not be humiliated.”
“We must correct the mistake of the cabinet decision (for ceasefire) and allow the army to do what it must” – urging full-scale ground invasion, increased terror bombing, inflicting far greater mass casualties, mainly affecting noncombatant men, women and children.
“The campaign continues, and with Hamas we must speak in a language it understands,” Danon blustered. He wants Palestine’s legitimate Hamas government entirely eliminated.
He thinks Netanyahu isn’t ruthless enough. He’s one of many ugly Israeli regime faces – an apartheid state far worse than South Africa, with lunatics like Danon still around.
Netanyahu appointed him UN envoy – the equivalent of Hitler giving Adolph Eichmann the job had the world body existed at the time.