New Yemen offensive underway
Yemeni pro-government forces have launched a major offensive to push Shiite rebels from coastal areas, in a move analysts say aims to end a military stalemate and jumpstart political talks. But the forces loyal to President resident Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi - who are backed by a Saudi-led military coalition - are facing divisions within their ranks that are hampering their efforts.
Supported by coalition air and sea support, loyalist forces launched operation “Golden Spear” on Saturday in Yemen’s western Dhubab district, about 30 km north of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. The goal is to drive Houthi rebels from all of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, which stretches some 450 km. Battles have raged since the launch of the offensive, with at least 68 fighters, including 55 rebels, killed so far, according to local military sources. The rebels, backed by Shiite power Iran, seized control of large parts of Yemen including the capital Sanaa in 2014. Fearing a rise in influence in its southern neighbor for regional rival Tehran, Saudi Arabia launched the intervention the following March. But despite thousands of air strikes and the sending of coalition troops to support Hadi’s forces, the loyalists have been unable to dislodge the rebels from key positions including in Sanaa. UN-backed peace talks have repeatedly broken down, despite the more than 7,000 people killed in the conflict and an escalating humanitarian crisis.
‘Change on the ground’ needed
The latest offensive “is important to reignite the political process,” Yemen’s Foreign Minister Abdel Malek al-Mekhlafi told AFP. “The Houthis will not accept dialogue” unless they are forced into talks by a “change on the ground”, he said. In 2015 coalition-backed government forces managed to recapture five southern provinces, but their advance has stalled. The rebels and their allies of renegade troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh - continue to control Sanaa, their heartland around the city of Saada and other northern provinces, and most of the southwestern Taez province. — AFP