Yemeni forces fighting under the US-backed Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Friday that they have withdrawn from areas around the port city of Hodeidah to fight the Houthis in other parts of the country.
Reuters reported that UAE-backed militias, including the Giants Brigade, issued a joint statement that said there was no reason for them to stay around Hodeideh due to the 2018 UN-brokered ceasefire for the Houthi-controlled port city.
“The joint forces recognized the mistake of remaining in defensive barricades, unable to fight under an international pact, while various front lines require support,” the statement said. Using the 2018 ceasefire as a reason to withdraw seems like an excuse since the truce has been frequently violated.
It’s more likely that the forces are being relocated due to the Houthis’ success on the battlefield around the city of Maarib and in the Shabwa province. Sources told Reuters that the UAE-backed fighters also withdrew from al-Durayhimi and al-Tahita, located to the south of Hodeidah, and the Houthis have moved in.
The move comes after reports said the Saudis withdrew from a major base in Aden. Saudi Arabia dismissed the reports as “baseless” and said the movement of troops was a “redeployment” rather than a withdrawal.
The US is still backing the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen despite President Biden’s February vow to end support for Riyadh’s “offensive” operations in the country. The Pentagon is still servicing Saudi warplanes that are bombing Yemen, and the Biden administration recently approved a $500 million deal to maintain Saudi attack helicopters and a $650 arms sale that gives Riyadh’s air force air-to-air missiles.
Something is moving.
US, Israeli, UAE and Bahrain military exercises in Red Sea are meant to be a warning. Warning to whom?
It is clear — warning to Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt and even Eritrea and Ethiopia. The future of Red Sea and Straits.
But how effective is this warning meant to emphasize US commitment to Israel?
What about UAE and Bahrain? Both countries with a serious problem that US can solve, or at least cause no harm.
This is the secret to Accords. UAE with dwindling oil reserves is dependent on remaining a financial hub and financial heaven. London and New York can break it.
Bahrain’s Sunni rulers fear vast majority of its Shia population. Or better put, fear somebody’s design on weaponizing the divide. Both are politically and militarily weak.
The alliance with US and Israel is essentially self-defence. Neither is really contributing much to US-Israel strength in the region. Symbology is not worth much in the region where everyone knows the score. Not that Israel is not trying to make the most of it,
But clearly coordinated decision by UAE and Saudi rulers to withdraw from around Hodeidah, as well as points south are indication that some deal with Houthis may be forthcoming.
Here is an intriguing question. Now that Saudi Arabia and UAE have quit the port region, will US navy still blockade the port? Will US navy continue the blockade? On whose behalf? As an independent combatant in Yemen war?
Saudi’s control the Southern-most region of Al-Mahra is an important geographic position. It could allow for pipelines be built to export oil without dangers of either straits be blocked.
Any deal with Houthis would cause crisis in Southern region.
Unless there is more to this story than meets the eye.
If it is the wrong thing to do, the USA will continue doing it.