After a failed attempt to retake Zinjibar, the Yemeni military is committing growing numbers of forces in the south to hold onto the key port city of Aden. At the same time, military warplanes are attacking northern villages in increasing numbers.

On top of that, Yemeni officials say, they are considering a full scale offensive against the tribesmen in the central region around Maarib oil fields, in the hopes of retaking a pipeline that the tribes blew up to protest previous moves by the regime. They say the offensive is needed to repair the pipeline and restart production at the Aden refinery.

Of course this comes on top of all the other offensives and attempts to quell the various secessionist movements and insurrections nationwide. None of these seem to be going in the regime’s favor at the moment.

And this may just be the tip of the iceberg, as President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who fled to Saudi Arabia after being badly wounded in an assassination attempt is expected to return. This is already fueling more massive protests against him, and could well restart the fight over the capital city with the northern tribesmen, who seemed to be on the verge of taking the city before Saleh’s last retreat.

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