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Sana’a…The Last of Yemen Battles ? | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Houthis attend a gathering in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, April 17, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)


Aden- Reclaiming Yemen insurgency-held capital Sana’a has become a contentious topic on the war-torn country’s arena.

Analysts say that the Sana’a battle will spell the end of the civil war spurred by Putschists that are chiefly composed of Iran-aligned Houthi militias and armed loyalists Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Iran’s militia war is vividly exposed in Yemen, as Houthi gunmen are funded, armed and tasked to overrun the internationally recognized government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.

More so, the Iran-backed insurgency in Yemen has staged countless and brutal war crimes according to human rights advocates who demand Houthi militiamen be held accountable for their atrocities before international courts.

Anti-Houthi resistance forces–made up of national tribesman and national army forces– continued their advance towards Sana’a—popular resistance forces and army units have reportedly arrived to Arhab, one of Sana’a’s key districts situated some 3 kilometers away from the capital.

Political analyst Yasin al-Tamimi says that ongoing battles and advances registered on behalf of pro-government forces present a critical advantage against coup militias.

What is worth mentioning is that other than loss of territory, the insurgency’s chief strategy of futile tossing of troops into battle has been further weakened due to internal conflict. Saleh loyalists, on many occasions, have withdrawn from battles against valiant pro-government tribesman.

However, progress recorded by pro-government forces will not be cut short to military pressure against Houthis but to also set a foot down against Houthis’ evasiveness and long-time exploitation of negotiations, Tamimi said.

Dashing military advances registered as of March 25, 2015 until the present day have turned around tables at the negotiations, restoring the upper-hand to legitimate Yemeni authorities, explained Tamimi.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia led along with its Arab allies a wide-ranging air campaign aimed at reversing Houthi military gains in Yemen and shoring up the country’s government.

Tamimi, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, confirmed that the Saudi-led Arab coalition operations are imperative for consolidating military advances in Yemen — a view shared and supported with the United States’ new administration, he added.