Yemen - Civil War

[Scorpion]

Our boys in Al-Rabuah town while ago.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Yemeni forces take full control of military camp just 40km from Sanaa

Pro-government Yemeni soldiers stand at the strategic Fardhat Nihm military camp after fully retaking it on February 11, 2016. The camp is around 40 kilometres from the capital, Sanaa. Ali Owidha/Reuters

Mohammed Al Qalisi
February 11, 2016 Updated: February 11, 2016 10:27 PM

ADEN // Yemen’s pro-government forces took full control of the Fardhat Nihm military camp from the Houthi rebels and their allies on Thursday, bringing them 40 kilometres from Sanaa.

Backed by Saudi-led air strikes, forces loyal to the internationally recognised government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi managed to capture the sprawling complex after pushing out the Houthis and allied renegade soldiers on Thursday morning, said Yemeni commander Brigadier General Murad Turaiq.

“The forces took over the camp after a week of fierce clashes, and after sweeping hundreds of landmines that were planted by the Houthis inside the camp. The landmines were a main obstacle for the forces [trying] to advance quickly inside the camp,” Brig Gen Turaiq told The National.

He said the pro-government forces would continue to advance towards Sanaa which was taken over by the Houthis in 2014.

“The forces have now passed the camp and are heading for the Bani Ghailan area. From there they will go towards the district of Bani Hoshaish. At that point they will be 25km far from Sanaa,” said Brig Gen Turaiq.

The camp was a base for Yemen’s Republican Guards, elite soldiers who remained loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh after he was toppled from power in 2011. Mr Saleh allied himself with the Houthis in 2014, with the Republican Guards following suit.

Pro-government forces stormed the camp last week, but fighting continued. Eight soldiers and an officer were killed in Thursday’s battle, according to Brig Gen Turaiq. He could not provide a death toll for the rebels.

Brig Gen Turaiq said some of the Houthis and pro-Saleh fighters had already defected to join the pro-government forces.

“I am calling the Houthis and Saleh’s fighters to join the resistance or to leave the war and stay at their houses, as all of those who will stay at their houses will not be bothered by the pro-government forces,” he said.

Also on Thursday, masked gunmen suspected of belonging to Al Qaeda killed three Yemeni soldiers in Aden in the latest attack to target security forces in the southern city, an official said.

[email protected]

* Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
Yemeni forces take full control of military camp just 40km from Sanaa | The National

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Republican Guard Officers Give up on Saleh and Join Legitimate Forces

Republican Guard Officers Give up on Saleh and Join Legitimate Forces

The Yemen Army announced that a senior military official from the former Republican Guard’s reserve, accompanied by a number of officers of different ranks, left anonymous, arrived at Ma’rib Governorate. Coincidently, informed sources revealed that Brig. Gen. Ali bin Ali al-Jaefi, chief commander of the Republican Guard, has broken away from the column supporting the ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh as pro-legitimacy forces approached Sana’a.

On the Yemeni battlefield, on Feb.10, the Yemen Army advanced alongside the Popular Resistance securing its control over zones that are infested with Houthi militia and pro-Saleh fighters. The last two mountainous heights in the Furdat Naham area have been put under the control of the Yemen Army, a score of militia members were killed and held captive, Popular Resistance sources in Sana’a said.

Zones subject to cleansing from militia overlook several areas in Sana’a and its frontiers, according to data received from the Popular Resistance.

Sources familiar with the matter stated that Houthi militia operating the Passport Office in Sana’a issued tens of fake passports for figureheads to help them exit the country via escape vessels floating on the ports of coast Tihamah.

In a response to losing further grounds to the Yemen Army and the Popular Resistance in the Naham district, considered the largest in Sana’a, Houthi militia conducted avenging attacks against Popular Resistance leaderships and legitimacy supports in areas still under their control while they were on their way out.

Houthis have detonated explosives in several domiciles belonging to Popular Resistance leaderships after robbing their belongings. The bombing coincided with pro-legitimacy forces’ approaching Sana’a. Sheikh Sadiq Hajla’s house in Masurah was among the residences blasted, sources from the higher council of the Popular Resistance reported.

Youth at the Furdat Naham camp of the Popular Resistance, amid all field developments, will be celebrating on Feb.11 the five-year mark on the resistance breaking out in 2011 and overthrowing Saleh, after he had ruled for 33 years.

Yemen Army Special Operations moved towards east Sana’a. On Feb.10, local sources reported an operation, noted of significant caliber, being carried out in the dividing zone between Arhab and Naham, located in the Sana’a district.

Sources claimed that the battalion was able to destroy a missile Launch pad. Also, Special Operation Forces exchanged fire with the Houthi militia in a clash that resulted in the death of a score of militants.

Across Sana’a district streets and neighborhoods, Popular Resistance flyers are being spread by anonymous groups. Eyewitnesses say that citizens, in quite a few city neighborhoods, testified to waking up with Popular Resistance slogans flashed across walls, houses, and some institutions.

Observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that the appearance of Popular Resistance’s posters and badges in the capital city signifies dynamic activity of pro-legitimacy forces, which also assures that Sana’a will be witnessing in the upcoming few days heated Houthi attempts to counteract the Resistance’s activity and intensify militia dominance. House raids and arrests inflicted on Popular Resistance supports and suspects are also expected.

Republican Guard Officers Give up on Saleh and Join Legitimate Forces - ASHARQ AL-AWSAT

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Yemeni VP: ‘We’re on the outskirts of Sanaa’
Feb 11, 2016

Yemen’s Vice President Khaled Bahah. — Reuters

DUBAI — Yemeni Vice President Khaled Bahah said on Tuesday that his internationally recognized government and allies are now close enough to recapture the capital Sanaa from the Iranian-backed Houthi militias.

“We are now in control of more than 80 percent of the Yemeni territories, and we are now close to Sanaa,” Bahah, who is also Yemen’s prime minister, said during the World Government Summit (WGS) conference in Dubai.

The Houthi militias and allied forces of deposed leader Ali Abdullah Saleh claimed control of Sanaa in Sep. 2014 and then moved to seize most of the country’s other major cities, briefly pushing the Yemeni government — including President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi — into exile.

Speaking about the southwestern city of Taez, Bahah said his government is taking necessary measures to lift its blockade and ensure access to supplies.

Amnesty International warned on Tuesday that the Houthis and their allied forces are endangering “the lives of thousands of civilians” in Taez after its stopping entry of necessary medical and food supplies in the past three month.

“Taez is a small city with a relatively large population and difficult geographic terrain, making it more difficult to liberate,” he said during a panel moderated by Al Arabiya News Channel’s general manager Turki Al-Dakhil.

“Even though we have turned to the UN more than once, the rebel group militias are uncooperative and have an unethical code of conduct, further impeding our efforts to lift the blockade.

That said, we are confident that we will liberate the city soon.”

The vice president vowed to “continue with the political process in addition to military operation but to make the former is a success.”

Last year, Saudi Arabia formed an Arab coalition in a bid to restore to power Yemeni’s internationally recognized government and unseat the Houthis.

However, while Bahah said that his country was in difficult circumstances, “we are working on a new strategy to exit this dire situation … now we have a vision to rebuild and bring back Yemen to its natural state.”

“Our brothers in the Gulf came to give us a lot of support,” he said. “We asked for an international community support from the UN and Gulf Cooperation Council,” he said, referring to when the Arab Spring began in Yemen five years ago.

Meanwhile, Bahah said “terrorists” are not targeting areas where Houthis and Saleh militias are located.

On Tuesday, clashes between Yemeni forces and Al-Qaeda militants in Aden killed at least six people, including four members of the same family, security officials and witnesses said.

Al-Qaeda controls part of the southern port city which has become the temporary headquarters of the government of Hadi as it continues to battle the Houthis. — Al Arabiya News
Yemeni VP: ‘We’re on the outskirts of Sanaa’ - Saudi Gazette

 

[UAE]

@BLACKEAGLE what is the role of Jordan in the military operation in Yemen. I have seen a few pics were taken during mission to Aden air port but since then I have not hear much about them.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

@BLACKEAGLE what is the role of Jordan in the military operation in Yemen. I have seen a few pics were taken during mission to Aden air port but since then I have not hear much about them.

As far as I know, Jordan contribution was through dedicating 6 of it's F-16 for the Arab Coalition in Yemen. I think this small contribution is due to the rising threats Jordan is facing on it's northern and eastern fronts. Plus, Saudi Arabia doesn't need much from Jordan in Yemen other than a small contribution to add more legitimacy for the Arab Coalition.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Elite forces sent to Sana’a front lines in Yemen
Loyalist forces undergo intensive military training in Marib and Al Aber military camps

Image Credit: AFP
Heavily damaged buildings in Yemen's third city Taez as a result of clashes between Shiite Huthi rebels and fighters from the Popular Resistance Committees, loyal to Yemen's fugitive President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
Published: 17:04 February 14, 2016
Saeed Al Batati, Correspondent
Al Mukalla: Hundreds of highly trained soldiers loyal to Yemen president Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi joined other forces battling Iran-backed Al Houthis militants in the province of Sana’a.

These forces were partly credited for recent territorial gains in the province, including the recapture of strategic Faradhat Nehim military camp, in a district near Sana’a, military officials said on Sunday.

Colonel General Abdul Rahman Al Sabri, the commander of pro-government Special Task Forces, told Gulf News that at least 600 elite forces have been deployed on the front lines in Sana’a, in a major morale boost.

“The forces have been subjected to intensive military training in Marib and Al Aber military camps. They are equipped with modern arms and military skills.”

Yemen government forces have recently scored a key victory in the fight against Al Houthis by advancing deeply into the province of Sana’a for the first time since March.

Al Sabri said that recently-deployed special forces are part of two military regiments that are being prepared to take part in the fighting as forces are slowly approaching the capital.

“We are training hundreds of more troops in Marib and we have asked the coalition to provide us with more modern arms. Those forces would join in fighting when government forces get closer to the capital.” The trainers are both Yemeni and men from the Saudi-led coalition.

Al Sabri said the huge numbers of landmines planted by the retreating Al Houthis are slowing down their advances. “We have asked for more experts to remove landmines from the battlefields.”

As government forces are heading towards the capital, Al Houthi militants and their allied forces loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh have sent more troops to blunt government forces advance, Al Sabri said.

“The battlefields are like tissue box. When you take out one tissue another one pops up. When we kill a soldier another one comes up.”

After capturing the camp and the surrounding hills, Hadi’s forces are battling the militants in the Bani Ghylan region, five kilometres from the camp.

“The coalition’s warplanes have played a great role in paving the way for our forces.”

In the north, local media reports said on Sunday a Katyusha rocket fired by Al Houthis killed a boy and injured two in the government-controlled Hazem city, the capital of the northern Jawf province.

Al Masdar Online, an independent news site, said the rocket landed at a religious school as the students were about to go home.

In the south, an army general battling militants in Karash region told Gulf News that his forces recaptured some villages and surrounding hills after fierce battles with Al Houthis.. Major General Fadhel Hassan said his forces took control of Al Maysra region and part of Al Soud Mountain in Lahj province.

A nationwide military operation against Al Houthis kicked off in March when Saudi Arabia led a coalition of allied countries aimed at restoring the legitimate government of President Hadi and curb Al Houthis’ expansion throughout Yemen.
Elite forces sent to Sana’a front lines in Yemen | GulfNews.com

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Arabian-led Intervention Sends Special Operations Forces to Free Al Mukalla, Al Hudaydah, Mokha


A senior Yemeni official, in close proximity to the joint forces of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the National Army alongside the Arabian coalition forces has head towards three Yemeni cities in order to free them from Houthi militia and defectors supporting the ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The three to-be-freed cities are Al Mukalla capital city of the Hadhramaut coastal region, Al Hudaydah the fourth-largest city in Yemen, and Mokha port city on the Red Sea coast of Yemen. Mokha belongs to the Taiz governorate.

Al Mukalla Yemeni city has been subject to al-Qaeda dominance since 2nd of April 2014. The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that units in located south have their own special operations scheduled, in addition to National Army operations.

Maneuvers against al-Qaeda will be within the range of first and second zones of the National army and their centers, the first centered area will be in Seiyun city in the Hadhramaut region, while the second will be in Al Mukalla. The source didn’t provide further information.

A video recording, acquired by Asharq Al-Awsat, is believed to show parts of the operation’s activity, launch, airdrop of equipment, and paratroop regiment action.

Senior political sources in Yemen told Asharq Al-Awsat, in Sana’a, that a broad coordination between pro-legitimacy forces on the anticipated military operation to free Sana’a from Houthi militia and Saleh supporting militants is being put into effect. The collaborative work features the efforts of prominent clan members, clan sheikhs of regions neighboring Sana’a, and those present inside Sana’a.

Informed sources informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthi militia have begun gradually deserting a majority of its commitments to citizens of areas fallen under their jurisdiction, amid the spread of corruption and persistent blunder of money by known militia leaderships. The money is being converted into foreign stocks and internal assets such as real-estate and personal properties.

Arabian-led Intervention Sends Special Operations Forces to Free Al Mukalla, Al Hudaydah, Mokha - ASHARQ AL-AWSAT

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Coalition Command: Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepts Scud missile from Yemen
14/02/2016 10:36:01 AM

RIYADH, 14th February, 2016 (WAM) -- A Scud missile launched from Yemeni territories towards Khamis Mishait in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been intercepted and destroyed by the Saudi Air Defence Forces.

The Saudi Press Agency, SPA, quoted a statement by the Coalition Command supporting the legitimacy in Yemen as saying that the Saudi Royal Air Defence Forces intercepted a Scud missile which was launched from the Yemeni territories heading for Khamis Mishait, a southern Saudi city, and completely destroyed it without causing any losses on the ground.

WAM/Esraa/Moran
Coalition Command: Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepts Scud missile from Yemen | WAM

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Arab Coalition intercept cargo ship carrying military equipment from Iran to supply Houthis in Yemen
14/02/2016 07:28:01 PM

ABU DHABI, 14th February, 2016 (WAM) -- The Arab Coalition has intercepted a cargo ship coming from Djibouti to Hodeidah port in Yemen carrying military equipment under the guise of carrying medical supplies.

Arab Coalition sources told Sky News Arabia on Sunday that following a search of the 'Menburt Cedar' ship, which was bearing the flag of the Marshall Islands, showed that it was carrying encrypted military communication equipment and other military hardware in containers originating from the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

Sources added that, following its departure from the Iranian port, the ship had temporarily docked in Djibouti, before it continued its journey toward the Yemeni coast , where it was intercepted by the Saudi-led Coalition forces.

The sources went on to say that the ship was intercepted en route to the port of Hodeidah, and taken to the port of Jizan in Saudi Arabia, where it was inspected in the presence of international observers who documented the whole process.

The Coalition forces fighting for the legitimate authorities in Yemen in the past have seized a number of boats and ships as they attempted to smuggle weapons to pro-Iranian Houthi militias and the ousted president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

WAM/Rasha/AAMIR
Arab Coalition intercept cargo ship carrying military equipment from Iran to supply Houthis in Yemen | WAM

 

[explorerx7]

This conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia is creating a possibly explosive situation in that region. However, it's all about nation wanting to be the leader of Islam. Their actions could at any moment result in a full-scale regional war, which could possibly extend to other regions.

 

[Scorpion]

This conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia is creating a possibly explosive situation in that region. However, it's all about nation wanting to be the leader of Islam. Their actions could at any moment result in a full-scale regional war, which could possibly extend to other regions.

Islam has got nothing to do with the geo political status quo. Its more of a political fight with Iran being the aggressive here by spreading terror in every place in the region. In Yemen Iran supports a terrorist militia, in Iraq, Lebanon and in Syria siding with the child murderer Asshead. Saudi Arabia is basically in adopting a counter measure.

 

[Jaeger]

A Saudi F-15 takes off to go conduct strikes on the Houthis