Yemeni Government Prepares for Potential Attack on Houthi Forces

Yemeni Government Forms Supreme Military Committee Amid Saudi-Backed Campaign

The Yemeni government, led by President Rashad al-Alimi, has announced the formation of a Supreme Military Committee (SMC) aimed at integrating anti-Houthi forces into the country’s military. The move is part of an ongoing Saudi-backed campaign to unite forces against the Houthi rebel group.

The Houthis, backed and funded by Iran, have controlled much of northwest Yemen since 2014. Their opponents, including the Yemeni government, have been divided in recent years, allowing the Houthis to maintain their hold on power. However, with the Saudi-backed campaign gaining momentum, the Houthis appear to be taking notice.

Several high-ranking Houthi officials have expressed a need to prepare for potential conflict, following President al-Alimi’s announcement of the SMC. The Houthis currently feel emboldened by their ability to withstand attacks from various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel.

The Yemeni government has been weak in its efforts to rule all areas under its control, allowing the Houthis to maintain a strong presence in the country’s northwest. However, with the formation of the SMC, the government is now exuding confidence.

Negotiations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have taken place periodically since a ceasefire in 2022. The central issue preventing a peace deal remains the belief on both sides that total victory is achievable. The Houthis view the Yemeni government as a puppet of Saudi Arabia and the West, and are firm in their stance that real negotiations can only be had with Riyadh.

The Saudi-backed campaign has led to tensions between the Houthis and their opponents, including the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC launched an offensive against Saudi-backed government troops in December, seeking an independent state in the south. The conflict between the Houthis and their opponents has been largely frozen since a ceasefire in 2022.

The formation of the SMC marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Yemen. The implications of this move are unclear, but it is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the country’s fragile peace process.

Source: Al Jazeera