|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Yemen’s internationally recognized government is reportedly preparing to launch a massive military assault to recapture the strategic Hodeidah Port from Houthi rebels, marking what is expected to be the largest offensive of the country’s ongoing civil war.
According to a Friday report in Emirati state media, nearly 80,000 soldiers are being mobilized for the operation, a move that could have far-reaching implications for the war’s trajectory and the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center based in Saudi Arabia, confirmed that the offensive would involve a significant portion of Yemen’s military forces.
“To my best knowledge, there is a preparation of almost 80,000 soldiers from the legitimate Yemeni government in different locations in order to take over Hodeidah,” Dr. Sager said.
The recapture of Hodeidah, one of Yemen’s primary ports and a vital entry point for food imports, has long been a key goal of the Yemeni government.
The city has been under Houthi control since 2014, and its strategic location has made it a major battleground in the war that has devastated the country.
Hodeidah is not just a military target—it is a critical lifeline for millions of Yemenis who rely on imports to survive the ongoing conflict.
Before the war, it was Yemen’s main gateway for food, medicine, and other essentials, with the port facilitating about 70% of the country’s food imports.
Control of the port has significant implications for both the military situation and the humanitarian crisis, which has left millions of Yemenis facing extreme poverty and famine.
In preparation for the assault, airstrikes by coalition forces have intensified in recent days, focusing particularly on Houthi positions in and around Hodeidah.
The UAE-based newspaper The National reported on Friday that these airstrikes had already killed several key Houthi figures, signaling a ramping up of military pressure.
The offensive is being supported by the United States, which has reportedly agreed to provide air cover and drone surveillance to Yemeni government forces, according to Dr. Sager.
However, this renewed military push is fraught with risks, especially given the international attention on Yemen’s humanitarian situation.
In 2018, a similar assault on Hodeidah led to widespread concerns about the potential for famine and further suffering among Yemen’s civilian population.
The United Nations and several international actors pushed for a ceasefire, leading to the Stockholm Agreement, which mandated the withdrawal of all military forces from Hodeidah to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Despite the agreement, the Houthis were accused of violating the terms by keeping forces in the city, and by 2021, they had regained full control of Hodeidah.
Dr. Sager warned that any new assault would likely face similar international scrutiny, as the world remains concerned about the humanitarian impact of renewed fighting in such a crucial area.
The stakes are high, not just for Yemen’s future, but for the broader geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.
The conflict has already drawn in regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran, creating a complex web of alliances and enmities that complicates any efforts to find a peaceful resolution.
As the countdown to the potential offensive begins, the world will be watching closely to see whether the battle for Hodeidah marks a decisive turning point in Yemen’s long-running civil war or further exacerbates the suffering of its people.