In recent days, the fighting between the Yemeni government forces and the Houthi armed forces has further escalated. The Saudi-led multinational coalition has also stepped up its attacks on the Houthi armed forces. The conflict has shown a trend of expanding front lines and increasing intensity. The Houthi armed forces stated on the 6th that they launched dozens of attacks on "Saudi-backed armed personnel gathering areas" in Lahj Province in southern Yemen that day, causing more than 200 casualties on the other side, and called this scale of casualties "unprecedented" in recent fighting. On the night of the 6th, explosions were heard again in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. The Houthi armed forces claimed that Saudi Arabia had launched air strikes in many places in Yemen. Analysts believe that it is difficult for all parties to the conflict to completely eliminate the other party through military means. The battle for strategic locations may be repetitive, conflicting or see-sawing.
Explosions ring in Yemeni capital
According to the latest news from the main station reporter, at least two explosions and the sound of fighter jets flying over were heard in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, on the night of the 6th local time.
According to news from the Houthi armed forces, on the night of the 6th, Saudi Arabia carried out air strikes in Sanaa, Amran Province, Al Jawf Province and Saada Province in Yemen.
Yemeni government forces claim to have regained strategic location
Houthis say they still control areas they captured
The media website affiliated with the Yemeni Ministry of Defense stated on the 5th that government forces launched a "large-scale offensive" against Houthi armed positions on multiple fronts in Marib, about 170 kilometers east of the Yemeni capital Sana'a, and made progress that day. The military operation caused "heavy losses" to the Houthis and destroyed many of their positions and warehouses.
The Yemeni government forces said on the 5th that they had recaptured the Red Sea port city of Muha in Taiz Province from the Houthi armed forces after fierce fighting.
The government forces also announced that they control parts of the town of Zubab, a strategic location along the Bab el Mandeb Strait. The government forces "have ensured effective control of the Bab el Mandeb Strait."
Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led multinational coalition, said on the evening of the 5th that the naval forces of the multinational coalition carried out military operations in Hodeidah Province, Yemen, and destroyed multiple military targets of the Houthi armed forces in Yemen, thwarting their attempts to launch attacks on the southern waterways of the Red Sea.
Houthi armed spokesman Yahya Saraya said through social media platforms on the 6th that the Houthi armed forces still maintain control of all the areas they have recently captured. The "enemy" is promoting its so-called "victory" only to appease its behind-the-scenes supporters.
Confrontation heats up, Houthis say they have repelled multiple Saudi attacks
Yemen's Houthi armed forces military spokesman Yahya Saraya issued a statement on social media on the 6th, saying that the Houthi armed forces launched dozens of attacks on "Saudi-backed armed personnel gathering areas" in Lahj Province in southern Yemen that day, causing more than 200 casualties. This scale of casualties is "unprecedented" in recent fighting.
The Houthi armed forces also stated that they launched ballistic missiles at Saudi Abha International Airport and used multiple ballistic missiles to attack the Dajalil military camp in Jizan Province, Saudi Arabia. The Houthi armed forces warned that Saudi airspace except Mecca and Medina has become the Houthi armed forces' "operation area" and warned all international airlines operating relevant routes through Saudi airspace to suspend relevant flights.
On the same day, the Houthi armed forces also issued a statement stating that in the past 24 hours, Saudi Arabia launched 66 air strikes and missile attacks against areas controlled by the Houthi armed forces. Since the military escalation, the total number of air and missile strikes launched by Saudi Arabia has reached 1,642.
Houthi armed forces use new homemade attack drone for first time
On the 5th local time, the Houthi armed forces in Yemen released two videos on social media platforms. It is said that the content of the videos is that the armed forces used a new homemade attack drone named "Shawarz" in actual combat for the first time, and launched homemade ballistic missiles into the adjacent Bab el-Mandeb Strait area. The Houthi armed forces stated that the missiles "carried out a devastating blow" to the enemy's gathering area.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait and surrounding areas have become the focus of competition
Analysts believe that as the conflict in Yemen heats up, the main goal of the Yemeni government forces and Saudi Arabia to increase their offensive is to gain control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and surrounding coastal areas. For the Yemeni government, although the previously announced goal is "not only to regain lost territory, but also to restore the country," as analysts pointed out, regaining all the areas controlled by the Houthi armed forces is difficult to achieve in a short period of time. Retaking strategic locations near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is not only more militarily operational, but also prevents the Houthi armed forces from converting their control of the Red Sea coast into long-term political bargaining chips.
For Saudi Arabia, in the context of the protracted war between the United States and Iran and the continued obstruction of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has become the preferred channel for Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports. Saudi Arabia is currently increasing military intervention to prevent the Houthi armed forces from expanding their influence in the Red Sea. This will not only weaken the Houthi armed forces, but also help its own energy exports.
However, regional experts point out that although the conflict in Yemen continues to intensify, no party will be able to achieve a decisive victory in the short term.
It is difficult for government forces to completely defeat the Houthi armed forces
Conflict or tug of war
Yemeni political analyst Reiman Hamdani believes that the current situation in Yemen is entering a "more dangerous stage", but it is difficult for all parties to completely eliminate each other through military means. The situation is likely to return to a state of negotiation and political arrangements after further escalation.
Gregory Johnson, a researcher at the Gulf Arab States Institute in Washington, a US think tank, said that it is difficult for the Yemeni government forces to completely defeat the Houthi armed forces with existing ground forces and air support, and the conflict may fall into a see-saw. The current situation in Yemen may become a "repeat of 2015": the Saudi-led multinational coalition intervened in the conflict in Yemen in 2015 to support the Yemeni government in its fight against the Houthi armed forces. Since then, the conflict has continued for many years. It was not until April 2022 that the Houthi armed forces and the Yemeni government reached a ceasefire agreement under the mediation of the United Nations.
Producer丨Zheng Hong
Producer丨Zhao Xinyu
Editor-in-Chief丨Cui Chong
Editor丨Wang Tingting
Reporters丨Zhang Yuchen Zhang Yaning
