Heavy fighting is still ongoing in the central Yemeni province of Maarib, where pro-Saudi forces, led by the United Arab Emirates, are pushing back the Shi’ite Houthi forces. UAE leaders claim that the capital of the province is now under control.
Maarib was kind of a fall-back plan for the pro-Saudi forces trying to advance on the capital of Sanaa. Initially after taking the southern port of Aden, they tried an offensive straight north through Taiz, but that offensive stalled quickly. Fighting there continues, but the Houthis are seen with an advantage.
Maarib is a roundabout way to the capital, but with heavy reinforcements they seem to be making progress, and are putting the Houthis very much on the defensive. Pro-Saudi leaders say they believe they’ll have a “straight shot” at Sanaa after Maarib.
Even if they take the provincial capital of Maarib, however, the province seems to still be contested, and the Houthis continue to have forces all around the outskirts, meaning the fighting is likely to continue for quite some time.