The military is closing in on Iran-backed Houthi militias, after the liberation of al-Qaniya area in al Bayda province. The major progress is seen in Saada, Taiz, Hays and al Jarahi districts on the west coast.
INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONFLICT – UPDATE 2018:
- Clashes between pro-secession Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Yemeni government troops in Aden has weakened the Saudi-Arabia military coalition fight against the Houthis.
- Tariq Saleh, a Yemeni military commander and the nephew of the late President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the surviving member of the GPC leadership, appeared in the war scenario leading the fight against the rebels in and around Sanaa (he had visited the Mokha district of Taiz governorate on February, in order to assess the current state of anti-Houthi operations, and the Shabwa governorate). However, his presence has sparked disquiet (he allied himself with the Houthis for several years before switching sides). But his presence it seen as a Saudi movement to utilise Tariq as part of its anti-Houthi military strategy in north Yemen.
- The UAE launched two main opperations against AQAP: «Operation Faisal» – in the al-Masini valley / and «Operation Decisive Sword» -to clear Wadi Yeshbum of al-Said district, Shabwa.
- Due to the economic situation, protests have raised on the rebel-held Sanaa. Many gas station owners closed their businesses and have stopped importing gas all together, accusing Houthis of using their gas and oil to fund their military activities.
- According to the UNSC, humanitarian access within the country has deteriorated due to the continued closure of Sana’a airport for commercial traffic. Also, the country is suffering a cholera outbreak, which has claimed 1,400 lives in two months, and Yemen is close to the brink of famine, with some 17 million people in urgent need.
MARTA Gª OUTÓN
SOURCES
-https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/yemenis-across-houthi-held-sanaa-protest-against-gas-shortage-1.710092
-http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/when-leader-dies-how-yemen-gpc-fell-apart-after-murder-saleh-tareq-saudi-uae-aden-sanaa-1966816018
-http://sanaacenter.org/publications/yemen-at-the-un/5500#Military_Developments