Yemen: Houthis hit by government counteroffensive

Fighting intensifies as pro-government forces backed by coalition jets target Houthi gatherings and military equipment

Fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government take position during their fight against Houthi militiamen in the northeastern province of Marib. EPA

A fighter loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government takes position during the fight against Houthi militiamen in the northeastern province of Marib. EPA

Fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government take position during their fight against Houthi militiamen in the northeastern province of Marib. EPA

A fighter loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government takes position during the fight against Houthi militiamen in the northeastern province of Marib. EPA

A fighter loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government takes position during the fight against Houthi militiamen in the northeastern province of Marib. EPA

A fighter loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government takes position during the fight against Houthi militiamen in the northeastern province of Marib. EPA

A fighter loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government takes position during the fight against Houthi militiamen in the northeastern province of Marib. EPA

Armed Houthi supporters stand beneath posters depicting Houthi fighters who were allegedly killed in the Marib offensive, during their funeral outside a mosque in Sana'a. EPA

An armed Houthi supporter walks past posters depicting Houthi fighters who were allegedly killed in the Marib offensive, during their funeral outside a mosque in Sana'a. EPA

Houthi supporters leave their weapons on the floor as they attend a funeral service of Houthi fighters who were allegedly killed in the Marib offensive, at a mosque in Sana'a. EPA

Pro-Houthi forces attend the funeral service of Houthi fighters who were allegedly killed in the Marib offensive, during a funeral service at a mosque in Sana'a. EPA

Fighting between Houthi rebels and tribes backing the Yemeni government intensified in areas between Marib and Al Bayada in northern Yemen on Saturday, tribal sources involved in the fighting told The National.

Yemen’s government is taking the fight to the rebels after they launched a major offensive in February to capture the ancient city of Marib, the government’s last northern stronghold in the country.

“Saturday's battle, which raged in the areas of Al Mushairif, Rahbah and Jabal bin Huraiz, between Marib and Al Bayda, was the fiercest since February,” tribal leader Sheikh Mohammed Al Qardaie told The National in a phone call.

“Clashes intensified as Houthi rebels pushed huge reinforcements, attempting to recapture the district of Al Rahabah which our fighters liberated last Wednesday,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

Battle for supply lines

“We launched a counterattack which thwarted the Houthi attempt to recapture Al Rahabah and took more ground near Al Mahiliya district, aiming to cut the main Houthi supply route that links Al Bayda and Marib and links Marib with Sanaa,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

Pro-government forces were backed by Arab coalition jets targeting Houthi gatherings and military equipment.

Saudi Arabia’s air force is making use of its large inventory of F-15S aircraft against the militias. Each plane can carry up to 13 tonnes of guided weapons.

In Belad Murad, in southern Marib, coalition jets launched a dozen air strikes targeting Houthi reinforcements.

Government eyewitnesses said bodies of the Houthi militants were still lying in mountainous areas of Bayda and inside armoured vehicles that were hit by air strikes.

“The air strikes precisely targeted Houthi military reinforcements heading from Sanaa towards Al Rahbah district, southern Marib,” Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that 40 Houthi fighters were killed and many Houthi military vehicles were destroyed by coalition air strikes in Al Mushairif on Saturday.

Government forces have also called for air strikes to target areas that Houthi rebels recaptured last week from the pro-government Al Amalika Brigades and the Public Resistance of Al Bayda, both local volunteer forces.

Human rights violations

According to Mustafa Al Baydhani, spokesman for the Public Resistance in Al Bayda, Houthi rebels raided residential areas of the Al Homaikan tribes which had taken part in the battle to liberate Al Zahir and As Sawma'ah last week.

“They raided the centre of Al Zahir district and villages in As Sawma'ah where they rounded up dozens of people, including the elderly, accusing them of working with the government,” Mr Al Baydhani said.

“Residents in these areas [Al Zahir and As Sawma'ah] were forced to leave their homes. Dozens of families fled their homes and many are still living under trees in remote valleys, and some were displaced to Yafea area in Lahj province in southern Yemen,” Mr Al Baydhani said.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when the Houthis swept across much of the north and seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognised government into exile. The Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year to support the government.