Continuing the trend of rebel losses in Yemen, the troops of the Houthi faction opposing government forces are being forced out of strategic areas along the country’s coast.
For months, the recognized government was bogged down in a stalemate in its years-long conflict with the ethnic Houthis. The government and its allies, namely the gulf state coalition led by Saudi Arabia (which by extension includes the United States), have been scrambling for a decisive victory that would move their agenda for the country forward.
Such a plan began taking shape this past summer. The strategy was conceived by the Saudis in mid June: a thrust into the strategically vital port city of Hodeidah. Lying on the coast of the Dead Sea, some five hours by car east of the capital Sanaa, capturing Hodeidah would be the pivotal win the coalition needed. But the operation to take the city also incurred huge risk. The city is a lifeline for millions in the impoverished country, where 8.4 million Yemenis are believed to be on the verge of starvation. The Arab states initially pledged a swift operation to take over Hodeidah’s air and seaports without entering the city’s civilian center as doing so would minimize casualties from the local population and avoid disruption of the port.
But a month after the campaign began, the Saudi-led coalition still hadn’t managed to achieve complete victory. While coalition leaders announced on June 20 that they had seized Hodeidah airport, local military and aid sources reported that neither side had complete control of the airport and its surrounding area, which spreads over some 20 square kilometers. Shortages of food and other supplies began to intensify. The crisis befalling the people of Hodeidah led the US administration—which until that point had been persistently backing the Saudis and their partners—to call for a ceasefire. In late October, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a written statement declaring that “the time for a cessation of hostilities is now.” Pompeo’s demand echoed Defense Secretary James Mattis’ words in a recent address in which the former general spoke at length of the need for an immediate diplomatic solution. “Yemen has more problems than any people deserve to carry,” Mattis said.
Despite the American calls for a halt in the fighting, government and coalition forces continued their push into Hodeidah. Their efforts seem to have finally produced some results. On 4 November, regional media reported that the Yemeni armed forces made important “strategic gains” in Al-Saleh, the city directly east of Hodeidah, after fierce battles with rebel troops. The advance was reportedly a joint effort of Yemeni special forces—known as the “Giant Brigades”—the local Tihama Resistance militia, and coalition forces. After suffering heavy losses, including the death of a senior field commander, the Houthis were pushed back all the way to the southern entrance of Hodeidah. The following day, government forces began taking parts of Hodeidah itself, capturing the city’s hospital and other strategic points.
Unfortunately, the battlefield successes have not lead to an end of the fighting. On 7 November, chief Houthi Commander Abdel-Malik al-Houthi responded to the victories by stating that he and his men will “never surrender” to government forces. “Does the enemy think that penetrating this or that area, or seizing this or that area, means we will be convinced that we should surrender and hand over control? This is not happening and will not happen ever,” al-Houthi said in a televised address.
Al-Houthi may be steadfast, but his attitude won’t change the facts on the ground. The recent success of the coalition in Hodeidah is the first sign of a shift in what has for long appeared to be a permanent deadlock. It may prove to be the first glimmers of hope for a final end to the fighting for the war-torn country.
