Yemen Forces Ready To Defend Marib

Yemeni government forces are better prepared, more experienced and better equipped to defend the central city of Marib against any renewed Houthi offensive, a senior military official said, amid reports that the Iran-backed group is massing fighters and military equipment around the province.

Brig. Yahya Al-Hatemi, director of the Yemeni army’s military media, told Arab News that government forces had gained extensive battlefield experience through more than a decade of fighting and were prepared to prevent the Houthis from advancing on Marib.

“The armed forces have generally become more organized, powerful and effective,” Al-Hatemi said, adding that years of combat had helped troops improve their tactics and understand the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.

Marib has emerged as one of the most strategically important areas under government control since Yemen’s war intensified in 2015. The province is home to more than 2 million displaced people, major military bases, oil and gas fields and a key power station.

The Houthis have repeatedly tried to capture Marib, but previous offensives failed to seize the city.

Yemeni media reported over the weekend that the Houthis had moved large numbers of fighters and military equipment into areas of Marib province under their control, raising concerns that the group could be preparing for another major offensive.

The reported buildup came after significant Houthi gains along Yemen’s western coast, including the capture of the Red Sea port city of Mokha and advances toward the Bab Al-Mandab area.

Al-Hatemi said the military was aware that Marib could become the Houthis’ next major target.

“We know that the new pressure will be directed at Marib,” he said, while expressing confidence in the province’s military strength and local opposition to the Houthis.

The Houthis launched a major offensive to capture Marib in early 2021. Fighting continued into early 2022, killing and wounding hundreds of civilians and combatants.

The campaign largely eased after a UN-brokered truce in April 2022, although the Houthis continued missile and drone attacks and maintained military mobilization around government-held areas of the province.

Yemeni military commanders say the situation has since changed, with government forces operating under a more unified command and having accumulated additional combat experience across several fronts.

The army has also reactivated its air force after an 11-year absence, with aircraft recently conducting strikes against Houthi positions.

“The armed forces were supplied with military equipment they had previously lacked, while the army and navy were restructured,” Al-Hatemi said.

“In addition, the air force, which had been absent for 11 years, was reactivated.”

Presidential Leadership Council member and Marib Gov. Sultan Al-Aradah also expressed confidence in the government forces, saying they could not only defend the province but eventually take the initiative against Houthi-held areas.

“There is no doubt that Marib is part of the broader battlefields across the country,” Al-Aradah told Saba TV.

He said the Marib front had remained focused on achieving victory, supporting civilians and strengthening other fronts across Yemen, with the broader objective of restoring the capital, Sanaa.

Al-Aradah also urged families in Houthi-controlled areas not to send their children to fight alongside the group, warning that they could be exposed to severe danger.

He accused the Houthis of reigniting the conflict through their latest military escalation and said Iran was encouraging the group to reject peace efforts.

Al-Aradah also praised Saudi Arabia for its support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, saying Riyadh had provided assistance to the Yemeni people across multiple areas and supported efforts to address the country’s economic and humanitarian challenges.

The renewed focus on Marib comes as fighting has expanded following Houthi advances in western Yemen. Their reported gains around Mokha and Bab Al-Mandab have increased pressure on government forces and raised concerns about where the Houthis could concentrate their forces next.