Yemeni Government Forces Face Logistical Hurdles in Offensive Against Houthi Rebels

Missile launches by Yemen’s Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, have become a common sight for residents in northern Yemen. On Thursday, Houthi missile strikes near the al-Maashiq presidential palace in Aden resulted in at least five fatalities. Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani was present during the attack but was unharmed. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated the attack targeted an operational headquarters as part of their campaign against Saudi-backed fighters and equipment supporting the internationally recognized government in Aden. These frequent missile attacks, coupled with territorial gains by the Iran-backed group around Taiz in southwestern Yemen, have disrupted crucial supply routes and threatened other essential infrastructure relied upon by government forces. These disruptions could potentially weaken the government’s “Dawn of Yemen” operation, which aims to reclaim territory lost to the Houthis since their seizure of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. However, government officials assert that supply issues will not impede the offensive, expressing confidence in their ability to overcome logistical challenges. Colonel Wadah al-Dubaish, spokesperson for the government-aligned Joint Forces on Yemen’s West Coast, told Al Jazeera, “The Houthi group consistently attempts to sever supply lines to government forces, but they have been unable to halt these supplies. So, military operations against the Houthis will continue.”

Despite these assurances, recent Houthi advances have inflicted significant losses on the government. In early September, a rapid Houthi advance along the Red Sea coast captured Mocha, a vital port and supply hub for pro-government forces in western Taiz governorate. Although a government counter-offensive reclaimed some territory along the southern Red Sea coast, Mocha remains under Houthi control. Al-Dubaish acknowledged that Houthi attacks and ground advances might delay or increase the cost of supply deliveries to certain fronts. “However, they cannot stop the flow of supplies because the air, land and sea routes are still available, allowing supplies to continue reaching the front lines,” he stated.

The situation in Taiz city exemplifies the limitations of this logistical flexibility. Houthi forces have severed the primary road connecting Taiz to Aden, the seat of the internationally recognized government. Alternative routes through the surrounding mountains have also been compromised, effectively besieging Taiz. The impact is already apparent, with fuel shortages and soaring prices tripling the cost of petrol in Taiz last week. The loss of these vital supply routes jeopardizes the government’s capacity to deliver ammunition, reinforcements, and other essential supplies to its troops, who are facing sustained Houthi attacks. Al-Dubaish maintained that military advances and retreats are inherent to warfare, and losing a single battle does not signify losing the entire conflict. “The war is still ongoing and will not cease until the Houthis are defeated,” he asserted.

Yemeni government forces are engaged with the Houthis on multiple fronts, including the southern Red Sea coast, around Taiz city, and in Marib and al-Jawf, east of Sanaa. Faisal al-Majidi, Yemen’s deputy minister of justice, explained that government forces depend on “logistical flexibility and decentralisation” to secure supply lines across the country. This strategy involves segmenting supply routes into semi-autonomous sectors, supported by accessible entry points and key supply hubs such as Shabwa, Marib, Houthi-free areas in Taiz, the Red Sea coast, and the southern governorates. This approach, he noted, helps mitigate the challenges of transporting supplies between distant front lines. Al-Majidi added that government forces are also focusing on controlling high ground overlooking major roads to protect vital supply arteries from bombardment.

One critical area of focus for pro-government forces is the strategic mountainous district of al-Waziiya in Taiz governorate. This location overlooks the Red Sea coast and could serve as a base to relieve the siege on Taiz city from its western approaches. Fighting with the Houthis in al-Waziiya is ongoing.

Saudi Arabia has intensified its support for the Yemeni government and allied forces since the launch of “Dawn of Yemen,” marking its first acknowledgment of airstrikes against Houthi forces since a 2022 truce. Riyadh initially intervened in the Yemen conflict in 2015 to reinstate the Yemeni government. Al-Dubaish emphasized the pivotal and indispensable role of Saudi military support, stating, “Saudi support is a decisive factor in the conflict. Without Saudi Arabia, it would be a huge challenge for the Yemeni government to confront the Houthis, who possess advanced military capabilities – such as ballistic and cruise missiles supplied by Iran – along with a large pool of fighters.” The Saudi-led coalition reported destroying hundreds of high-value targets through airstrikes since early October. Al-Majidi described the Saudi air support as a “strategic balancer” and a crucial component of the “Dawn of Yemen” operation, focusing on providing direct cover for ground forces, neutralizing Houthi reinforcements, and targeting missile and drone launch platforms.

Coordination remains a significant challenge for the anti-Houthi coalition. Al-Dubaish highlighted that poor coordination among military units, operating under disparate command structures, hinders progress. “This fragmentation is not in the best interest of the forces fighting the Houthis.” The government’s loss of the Red Sea coast in September was partly attributed to faulty coordination among anti-Houthi forces, who were slow to react to the Houthi advance. This occurred despite government assurances of a unified command structure following the defeat of separatist Southern Transitional Council forces. Al-Majidi stated, “The coordination among various field forces… remains the true litmus test for the success of the Dawn of Yemen operation.”

Adnan al-Jabarni, a Yemeni researcher specializing in military affairs, indicated that coordination among government forces is improving. He noted that these forces are currently testing their unified structure, established after the withdrawal of the UAE from Yemen and the formation of the Supreme Military Committee (SMC), which integrates various military branches and units. The Presidential Leadership Council, Yemen’s UN-recognized authority led by President Rashad al-Alimi, established the SMC in January to oversee all anti-Houthi military units and integrate them into the official Yemeni military. However, longstanding divisions related to command structures and funding sources persist, as evidenced by the difficulties in coordinating battlefield operations, highlighted by the losses on the Red Sea coast. Effective coordination is crucial for Taiz, where regaining control of roads for supply routes is essential to repelling the Houthis. Al-Jabarni believes that friction among pro-government forces is decreasing and that supply lines remain intact despite Houthi attacks. “The Houthis are attempting to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government by targeting civilian facilities and supply lines – specifically focusing on vital infrastructure – but I believe this is likely to intensify the pace of anti-Houthi operations rather than slowing them down,” al-Jabarni concluded.