The strategic withdrawal underscores a significant reversal for the government's September counteroffensive, which failed to clear Houthi fighters from the coastal city of Mocha. In addition to securing Aden against impending rebel incursions, troops are moving to break the ongoing humanitarian siege in Yemen's third-largest city, Taiz. Meanwhile, military spokesman Majid Al-Nazili called for international assistance to restore control over vital shipping lanes in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Key points
Government defensive priorities have shifted from securing maritime waterways to protecti…: Government defensive priorities have shifted from securing maritime waterways to protecting the interim capital against rebel advances.
The redeployment signals that the government's September counteroffensive stalled after f…: The redeployment signals that the government's September counteroffensive stalled after failing to secure the coastal city of Mocha.
Humanitarian relief for the besieged city of Taiz serves as an essential secondary object…: Humanitarian relief for the besieged city of Taiz serves as an essential secondary objective for redeploying government forces.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Spokesman for the Southern Armed Forces says group is repositioning from Dhubab airport and areas around Bab al-Mandeb.
Forces affiliated with Yemen’s internationally recognised government say they are withdrawing from territory near the Bab al-Mandeb strait to focus on defending the interim capital, Aden, from the Houthi armed group.
A spokesman for the Southern Armed Forces, a group allied with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, said on Sunday that it was redeploying from Dhubab airport and areas around Bab al-Mandeb in southwestern Yemen.
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“This step is taken based on the priority of securing the capital, Aden, and the neighbouring governorates, as well as strengthening the front lines and addressing existing threats,” the spokesman said.
The announcement raises the prospect of new Houthi advances towards Aden…
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