Speaking Thursday on the ongoing invasion of the vital north Yemen port city of Hodeidah, Aidarous Zubaidi, the head of a South Yemen separatist movement, has announced that 20,000 fighters are committed to taking the port, and that fighting won’t be stopped until the port is taken.
The South Yemen separatists have at times clashed with the Saudi-led invasion force, but have been backed by the United Arab Emirates, which is also involved in the attack on the important aid port. Hodeidah is the source of roughly 70% of the food entering Yemen.
The UAE has committed to taking the city, so it’s unsurprising that they’re calling on any auxiliary forces they can get. That said, it’s not clear why the South Yemen separatists would want to sacrifice themselves for a city that’s far into northern Yemen.
Hodeidah is a vital supply line for the Houthi movement, that controls northern Yemen. The last port under their control, Hodeidah is the only place humanitarian aid of any kind can come from, and without it, mass starvation is predicted.
There is a good reason Southern separatists are involved — money, promises of independence and split among leadership. Most wealthy Saudi businessmen call South (Hadhramut) their ancestral home. They now have more sway over South depleted funds. Second, UAE is working contrary to Saudi interests, and it is thus not clear who exactly is the underwriter here. And thirdly, leadership of southern independence had earlier a deal with North, to not harm each other interests, and split the country along former borders. Thus, their involvement (and in whose interests and agenda) bears being worth carefull scrutiny.
The South are being played just like the Kurds. I’m all for any kind secession but when you fail to focus on your own territory you loose the integrity necessary for a successful war of independence. The South should be working with the Houthis to reform a division that actually made historical sense. The UAE will ultimately throw them out like yesterdays garbage once the Zaydis have been thoroughly exterminated.