Yemeni factions prepare ground assault to drive out Houthis: Report

Yemeni armed groups are reportedly preparing for a coordinated ground offensive aimed at dislodging the Houthis from key territories along the Red Sea coast, according to US and Yemeni officials.

Since mid-March, US strikes have focused on Houthi-held areas in Sanaa, Hodeidah, and the northern stronghold of Saada, including densely populated neighborhoods. The campaign has left at least 123 people dead and worsened an already severe humanitarian crisis. US and Yemeni officials claim the strikes have significantly weakened the Houthis’ operational capabilities.

Officials familiar with the discussions told The Wall Street Journal that local militias are seeking to capitalize on the momentum of the airstrikes to launch a new ground assault. One of their primary targets is the strategic port of Hodeidah, a critical economic and military hub for the Houthis.

According to Yemeni sources, the offensive would be led by southern-based factions aiming to push Houthi forces away from large portions of the coast, from which they have launched repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Capturing Hodeidah would also cut off one of the Houthis’ key supply routes and hinder the group’s ability to receive weapons from Iran.

Private American security contractors have reportedly provided strategic advice to the Yemeni factions involved in planning the potential operation. The UAE has also raised the plan in recent discussions with US officials.

While Washington has expressed openness to the idea, US officials say they are not spearheading the initiative and have not yet committed to supporting it. The Biden administration is also said to be weighing options to scale back its current air campaign in Yemen.

Despite the mounting pressure, the Houthis remain defiant. Senior Houthi figure Mohammed Ali al-Houthi stated that the bombings would not deter the group, adding that a ground offensive would similarly fail to halt their operations.