Intense fighting continues to be reported in northern Yemen’s Maarib Province, where pro-Saudi government forces are fighting to hold their last northern holding from the Houthis. The signs are that the Houthis are wearing them down.
Though the Maarib holding itself is still in government hands, the area overlooking the city has fallen, giving the Houthis a vantage point for further offensives to come.
Maarib’s value is primarily in being the “last” northern holding outside Houthi control, and its fall would mean they have, years into this war, secured the whole north of Yemen.
This could be a step toward new negotiations, as it makes clear as ever that the war isn’t a way to defeat the Houthis, and that even if the Saudis can’t get everything they want in negotiations, they’re never going to get it in a war, either.
Looks like the Houthis are gonna win.
Houthis is a name we imposed on the people of Yemen. For over one thousand years one dynasty ruled Yemen, until the military coup in the fifties ended it.
The muddle started when the group of Southern sultanates became “South” Yemen, making the only Yemen that existed in history — North Yemen. North Yemen corresponds with little variation what historic Yemen always was.
Then why call them Houthis? To avoid calling them Yemenis. To keep the illusion that there is united Yemen, although the united Yemen did not exist until after the Cold War. It was an imposed solution.
The solution may have worked if the creators if the solution accepted that North is the stronger entity, and not try ethno-engineering.
However, Saudis were very amiable to our solution — to have Sana’a of the Shia North be nominally the capital, and have army mostly manned by their clans, while under wraps give more money and investments to Sunni South.
Houthis are one clan among many Yemeni clans, that always managed a decentralized state, with only some key functions residing centrally. Even army used to be a collection if clans united for defense. North Yemen clans were always armed, and they locally managed justice system and welfare.
South for their part would like to stay independent.
US played a double- dealing game. In the South Saudis had support — in North not, but had cordial relationship.
But by giving UAE the help to make Southern clans dependent in UAE for independence, Saudis had no choice but to keep on pretending that there is one Yemen, and Houthis are the inly one recalcitrant.
If course, this is to avoid having open conflict with US and UAE, By continuing the utterly pointless illusion of one legitimate government of unified Yemen — war cannot end by dividing North and South, For as long as UAE claims South — war will go on.
Why all the fuss over South? UAE, a full fledged colony of Western capital, is poised to take Arabian side of Al-Mandeb Straits, KSA, Sudan and Egypt do not accept this.
And latelly, Russia is involved as well, as the newly contracted naval base in Port Sudan would host Russian navy and nuclear submarines. None of them want to be at the mercy of US closing off vital link to Asia through the Straits,
This one will continue until US and UAE relinquish military control of the South, Both North and South can be independent without foreign military bases. That is what Saudis, Sudan and Egypt want.
Marib is a fascinating place. Ruins of Queen of Sheba Moon Temple are there. It was treacherous to visit — required clan permission, sitting down for tea, then proceeding to ruins that are not secured, and paths – well at your own risk.