152.130.8.71 (talk) No edit summary Tag: Reverted |
All claims of ISIS and AQAP in Marib campaign is based on Houthi scources. No independent and nutral scource has confirmed it. Tags: Reverted Visual edit |
||
Line 118: | Line 118: | ||
On 15 February, [[Mark Lowcock]] the [[Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator|Humanitarian Chief of the United Nations]] expressed his concern regarding the Houthis advance on Marib city and called for a "de-escalatation". Military officials of the Hadi Government informed that Houthi rebels advanced towards the city in two fronts, after seizing al-Zor and advancing on the western sides of [[Marib Dam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/16/un-alarmed-as-battle-for-marib-threatens-millions-of-yemenis|title=UN ‘alarmed’ at military escalation in Yemen’s Marib|work=Aljazeera|date=16 February 2021}}</ref> |
On 15 February, [[Mark Lowcock]] the [[Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator|Humanitarian Chief of the United Nations]] expressed his concern regarding the Houthis advance on Marib city and called for a "de-escalatation". Military officials of the Hadi Government informed that Houthi rebels advanced towards the city in two fronts, after seizing al-Zor and advancing on the western sides of [[Marib Dam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/16/un-alarmed-as-battle-for-marib-threatens-millions-of-yemenis|title=UN ‘alarmed’ at military escalation in Yemen’s Marib|work=Aljazeera|date=16 February 2021}}</ref> |
||
On 18 February, media close to Houthis reported that Houthi forces took control of the Marib Dam, al-Balaq, Dahwan, and Athaf mountains, and the Kholan area, among others, as coalition forces staged a general retreat. This marked the first time since 2015 that the Houthis controlled Marib Dam, which now gave the Houthis fire control of the southern road to Marib. The Houthis and Al-Qaeda in Yemen, said that [[Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula|al-Qaeda]] and [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Yemen Province|ISIS militants]] were fighting alongside the government in the Tala’at al-Hamra area and east of Hilan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.iswnews.com/17525/marib-dam-was-liberated-isis-and-al-qaeda-still-could-not-stop-ansarallah/|title=Marib dam was liberated; ISIS and al-Qaeda still could not stop Ansarallah!|date=18 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="DAESHAQYP" /> |
|||
On the same day, ISIS confirmed its involvement in the Marib battles against Ansar Allah forces.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ISIS participation in the Marib battles against Ansar Allah|url=https://english.iswnews.com/17516/isis-participation-in-the-marib-battles-against-ansar-allah/|access-date=2021-02-19|website=IWN|language=en-US}}</ref> |
|||
==Analysis== |
==Analysis== |
Revision as of 22:57, 19 February 2021
Ma'rib campaign | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) | |||||||
![]() Ma'rib Governorate | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
|
![]() ![]() | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
![]() ![]() |
![]() (Chief of Staff) ![]() (Third Military Region Marib) ![]() (81th Infantry Brigade) ![]() (Commander 2nd Battalion) ![]() ![]() (Chief Marib Military Zone) ![]() (Chief of Staff 173rd Infantry Brigade) ![]() (Leader 173rd Infantry Brigade) ![]() (Marib Tribal leader) ![]() (Leader of Islah Party) ![]() (Leader of Islah Party of Marib) ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Popular Committees Armed Tribesmen of Murad[19] (Since September 2020) |
![]() Armed Tribesmen of Baydha[13] Armed Tribesmen of Murad[13] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
unknown | unknown |
The Ma'rib campaign is a campaign for control of the Ma'rib Governorate of Yemen, between the Houthi fighters and Yemeni Army units loyal to Supreme Political Council on one side, and pro-Hadi militiamen and Yemeni Army units loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi on the other side.
Timeline
2015
In September 2015, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi engaged Houthi forces and successfully established control over the eastern and western regions of Marib province. They took territory in Sirwah and Hareeb including the Hailan mountain, Al Ateef, Al Makhdarah, and Al Masaryah hill.[21]
52 Emirati soldiers, 10 Saudis and 5 Bahrainis were killed when a Houthi missile struck the coalition base at Safer in September 2015.[22]
2016
The 2015 missile strike marked an escalation in the conflict. In the months that followed, coalition air strikes targeted more civilian sites than military targets. During the 18-month period, between 26 March 2015 and 2 August 2016 there were nearly 500 attacks in Mar'ib, which was located at the frontline of the battle between coalition and Houthi forces.[23] In 2016 the Yemen Data Project reported that Saudi air raids had hit a market in Sirwah twenty-four times.[24]
In October, Houthi forces killed Major General Abdul-Rab al-Shadadi, a high-level pro-government commander.[8][25] Houthis leaders Hussain al-Mutawakel and Abu Jabar Ahmad al-Houthi, were captured by coalition forces. Coalition forces fought with Houthis for control over the route that runs from Yemen's capital Sanaa through Sirwah to Mar'ib.[7]
2017
US drone strikes were reported in early 2017 after the election of President Donald Trump. This marked the first U.S. engagement in Yemen since the failed Yakla raid.[26] In November 2017 the New York Times reported that Mar'ib was "an island of relative calm".[27]
2020
On 18 January, a missile attack on a military training camp in the central province of Ma'rib killed at least 111 soldiers, while dozens were wounded. Yemeni government blamed Houthi rebels for the attack, as there was no claim of responsibility.[28] The strike targeted a mosque as people met for prayer, military sources told Reuters.[29][30]
On 8 April, the Saudi-led coalition announced a two-week ceasefire, in part to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi vice defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman tweeted that Saudi Arabia would contribute $500 million to the U.N. humanitarian response plan for Yemen in 2020 and another $25 million to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.[31]
On 27 May, Houthi fighters launched two ballistic missiles on the Saudi backed forces of the Hadi government in Marib province. One missile targeted an army headquarters and another a military camp. The attack left 7 officers dead, including the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sagheer bin Aziz's son and nephew, both officers. Bin Aziz survived the attack.[32]
On 30 May, regional media reported the departure of American and Saudi servicemen from Marib province. One of the alleged reasons was to avoid Houthi attacks and missile strikes.[33]
On 3 June, an explosive device killed 9 Hadi Government soldiers and high-ranking officers, including the 81st Infantry Brigade Chief of Operations, Brigadier General Abdullah Ahmad Al Abdi and the Commander of the 2nd Battalion, Colonel Ali Omar Murad. Another Colonel was killed by another IED after going to the region to investigate. In the last weeks a total of 13 officers were killed in IED style of ambushes near the Seventh Military Region in Marib.[9]
On 21 June Houthi-led forces fought its way in the Al Bayda Governorate, with the aim of reaching Mahilia area and attacking Marib by the South.[13] According to pro-Hadi government media the Houthi offensive on Al-Nahma area, Mahliyah District of Marib, left tribesmen loyal to the government and soldiers in a dire situation of being attacked from the South.[34]
On 24 June, media sources close to the Houthis reported the deaths of prominent commanders on Hadi Government forces including Lt. Col. Saleh Abdo Hashem al-Jamali, two Captains; Ibrahim al Akki and Adam Jarban, the Chief from the 4th Battalion, 141st Brigade. Several other soldiers were reported killed amid news of hospitals in Shabwa and Marib collapsing from battle casualties.[10]
On 30 June, Houthi forces made further advances on the north of Badya and the south of Marib, seizing 400 km2 of terrain and inflicting 250 killed, wounded and captured Pro-Hadi Government forces.[35]
On 12 August, Houthi sources reported advances on the Marib front against ISIS and Al-Qaeda forces located in the southeast of Marib and Saudi-led forces in the southwest.[36]
On 1 September, Hadi Government denied reports by Houthi media that military advances made by the Houthi rebels on the district of Mahiliya in Marib Province. Claims of advances were reported also on Al-Aqabah, Al-Mohalil Market, the Murad Mountain and villages of Ghubayb and Asha. The Hadi government claimed that they have repelled a failed attack by the Houthis and inflicted heavy losses on them. Latter, the Pro-Hadi forces published photos of killed and captured Houthi fighters.[37]
On 7 September, Houthi forces made further advances in Marib Province closing into the Ma'rib city itself, Mohamed al-Bokhaiti a member of the Houthi movement informed in social media.[38]
By late September, the campaign had become a war of attrition with more fighting being reported and Houthi forces advancing to Marib by 3 directions.[39]
On 8 October, media close to the Houthis announced that a large force of Hadi government forces was defeated in the North of Marib and the area of Al-Khanjar camp in al Jawf governorate, at least 3 Colonels and many field commanders and soldiers were reported killed.[40]
On 13 November, Houthi forces announced the capture of Camp Mas after three previous unsuccessful attacks.[41][42] The capture could allow the Houthis to take over the Raghwan and Midghal districts.[43]
On 27 November, Pro-Hadi scources claimed that 21 Houthis were killed in artillery bombardment in Ma'rib.[44]
On 22 December, Houthi rebels shot down a Saudi Arabian CH-4B drone in the Medghal District in Marib Province.[45][46] Houthi forces intensified their attacks along the northern front of Al Jawf and Marib, despite the daily deaths reported by the COVID-19 pandemic.[47]
2021
On 7 February, Houthi fighters lauched a missile attack on a Hadi Government military camp in Marib killing 3 soldiers and wounding 4.[48]
On 8 February, Houthi rebels lauched a new offensive on Marib's with clashes taking place 10 kilometers west of the city,[49] leaving 20 government soldiers killed and 29 injured as well as 7 Houthi fighters captured[49] and others wounded according to a Hadi Government official.[48]
On 12 February, Pro-Hadi forces said they repelled a Houthi attack on Ma'rib city after Saudi-led coalition provided air support, "killing 60 Houthi fighters", pro-Hadi officer reported.[50] Houthis shot down a Saudi Arabian CH-4 drone with a OSA surface to air missile and provided footage of the shotdown of the drone.[51][52]
On 13 February, Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Party in Yemen was killed[15] alongside two Hadi-Goverment Colonels during Marib clashes.[16]
On 15 February, Mark Lowcock the Humanitarian Chief of the United Nations expressed his concern regarding the Houthis advance on Marib city and called for a "de-escalatation". Military officials of the Hadi Government informed that Houthi rebels advanced towards the city in two fronts, after seizing al-Zor and advancing on the western sides of Marib Dam.[53]
Analysis
Mar'ib is of particular strategic importance in the conflict because it is a center for oil & gas production in Yemen; the powerplants of Mar'ib supply power to a significant part of the country and a gas pipeline passes south through Marib to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The Safer Exploration and Production Operations Company and other foreign companies who work in the energy sector are based in Mar'ib.[22]
According to Nadwa Dawsari, an expert of Yemen topics cited by The New Arab, the 2020 Houthi offensive in Yemen was the largest offensive launched by the Houthis since 2015 after the Aden offensive. He also considered that if the Houthis managed to capture Marib they would consolidate their advances on the North and could continue launching attacks towards Shabwah or Hadhramaut.[54]
References
- ^ Orkaby, Asher (22 March 2015). "Houthi Who?". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Begins Air Assault in Yemen". The New York Times. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ Felicia Schwartz, Hakim Almasmari and Asa Fitch (26 March 2015). "Saudi Arabia Launches Military Operations in Yemen". WSJ.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Pakistan ready for ground offensive in Yemen: report". the globe and mail. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes in Yemen". CNN. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ a b Almarshahi, Emad (18 February 2021). "Daesh, al-Qaeda confirmed supporting Saudi Arabia in Ma'rib front".
- ^ a b c "Capturing Houthis in Marib latest setback for militias". Retrieved 2018-01-07.
- ^ a b Top general in Yemen's Saudi-backed army killed. Reuters. Published 8 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d "13 high-ranking officers were killed ... mysterious liquidations in the Army legitimacy in Marib". Marib News Yemen.
- ^ a b "Military commanders loyal to coalition killed in Sewah front of Marib". Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Pro-coalition military commander killed in Marib". 11 September 2020.
- ^ "Pro-coalition Commander killed in Yemen". 16 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Fiercest hostilities pitting Houthis against tribes in Yemen's Baydha". Debriefer.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Yemeni MP killed in fighting with Houthis". 3 September 2020.
- ^ a b "قاتَل من مسافة "0" رغم كبر سِنه.. استشهاد شيخ ماربي بعد أن أحرق ورجاله 13 مدرعة حوثية". Marib News Yemen (in Arabic). 13 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Latest news from Marib, al-Jawf, al-Hudaydah and Saadah fronts". 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Several pro-coalition leaders killed in Marib". Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ "Saudi paratrooper commander killed in Marib". Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Latest updates on Yemen, 9 September 2020". Islamic Worls News. 9 September 2020.
- ^ "Ansarallah forces score new advances in Yemen despite heavy strikes by Saudi-led Coalition". 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Yemen forces tighten siege on Marib". The National. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
- ^ a b "Why Marib province is crucial to coalition victory in Yemen". The National. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
- ^ Torpey, Paul; Gutiérrez, Pablo; Swann, Glenn; Levett, Cath. "What is happening in Yemen and how Saudi Arabia's airstrikes are affecting civilians - explainer". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
- ^ MacAskill, Ewen; Torpey, Paul (2016-09-16). "One in three Saudi air raids on Yemen hit civilian sites, data shows". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
- ^ "Yemen's top pro-government military commander killed - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
- ^ "PressTV-US drone strike kills five in Yemen's Ma'rib". Retrieved 2018-01-07.
- ^ Hubbard, Ben (2017-11-09). "As Yemen Crumbles, One Town Is an Island of Relative Calm". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
- ^ "Shiite missile kills Yemen troops". Journal Gazette. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ "Yemen missile attack kills at least 80 soldiers". 2020-01-19. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ "Yemen war: Death toll in attack on military base rises to 111". BBC News. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ El Yaakoubi, Aziz; Kalin, Stephen (2020-04-08). "Saudi-led coalition announces ceasefire in five-year Yemen war". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- ^ "Missile attack on Yemen army command in Marib kills at least 7". Aljazeera. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- ^ "Saudi Forces, US Experts Left Marib Secretly". Daily Yemen. Archived from the original on 2020-05-30.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 2020-06-12 suggested (help) - ^ "Tribal sources have warned of the seriousness of the situation on the borders of the southern Marib governorate, with the Houthi militia continuing to mobilize to the outskirts of Radman District and trying to deploy to the Mahlia District, adjacent to it". yemen News. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson press conference regarding the operation in north of Baydha". 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Ansar Allah heavy attack in north of Baydha and south of Marib (Map Update)". Islamic World News.
- ^ "Houthis claim to have advanced in Marib, capturing Mahiliya district". 1 September 2020.
- ^ "Bokhaiti confirms Houthi military advance towards Marib". Debriefer. 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Last stand in Yemen as battle for oil-rich province rages". France 24. 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Coalition forces suffer heavy losses in Jawf". 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Ansarallah forces score major victory as they close in on key Yemeni city". Al Masdar.
- ^ "Ansar Allah heavy attack to Maas base in Marib province". Islamic World News.
- ^ "Ansarallah forces achieve major victory as they approach de facto gov't capital in northern Yemen". Almasdar News. 13 November 2020.
- ^ "الجيش اليمني يعلن مقتل 21 حوثيا في مواجهات غربي مأرب". بوابة دوت كوم (in Arabic). 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
- ^ "Yemen rebels: Fighters shot down Saudi-run drone near border". The Washington Post. 22 December 2020.
- ^ "Houthis Claim Saudi CH-4 Drone Downed Near Border". The Defense Post. 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Yemen's Devastating War Continues Despite an Unchecked Pandemic". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Iran-backed Houthis resume offensive in Yemen's Marib". Al Arabiya English. 8 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Roundup: 20 killed as Yemen's Houthis step up military operations against oil-rich Marib". Xinhua News Agency. 8 February 2020.
- ^ "اليمن.. استمرار المعارك بين الجيش والحوثيين لليوم السادس". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
- ^ "SAM "Osa" shot down a strike drone of Saudi Arabia". avia-pro.net. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "War media distributes footage to shoot down CH-4 fighter plane in Marib". 12 February 2021.
Video of the shotdown
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|quote=
- ^ "UN 'alarmed' at military escalation in Yemen's Marib". Aljazeera. 16 February 2021.
- ^ "Yemen in Focus: Houthi offensive on Marib could determine country's future". The New Arab. 4 September 2020.