The Houthis Military Escalation: Messages and Goals

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have escalated their military activities against the Southern forces and other fronts in North Yemen over the past two months. From May 1 to July 13 this year, the militia carried out 51 attacks monitored by "South24 Center" in the governorates of Al-Dhalea, Lahj, Shabwa, Abyan and Harib front in Marib the adjacent to Shabwa.

The attacks killed and injured tens of the Southern forces' members. On the other hand, the Houthis incurred heavy losses which are often hushed up. The militias used drones, mortars, snipers, and infiltration attempts. They also launched a missile toward Shabwa. The Southern forces repelled most of the attacks. However, the drone attacks harmed them.

In addition to this escalation at the battle fronts, the Houthi militias carried out military parades in areas adjacent to South Yemen in Ibb and Dhamar. Furthermore, they launched attacks in Marib and Sanaa. Their leaders have continuously threatened to resume the war and end the current de-escalation phase which has been in place in the country since the official expiration of the UN-mediated truce in October.

Between the maneuver and pressure strategy to achieve political gains or the real tendency toward the war, there are various explanations for this Houthi military escalation which has been basically directed toward South Yemen. The timing related to the bilateral talks between Riyadh and the Northern group also adds more questions. This is in addition to what the South Yemen arena has experienced through moves that aim at distracting the STC, which is the Houthis’ archenemy. 

Between May 1 and July 13 this year, the Houthi attacks against the Southern forces were about 51 operations in the governorates of Al-Dhalea, Lahj, Abyan, and Shabwa. This is in addition to the Harib District front in Marib (North Yemen), adjacent to Shabwa where the Southern Giants Brigades have deployed since being liberated in early 2022.

With nearly 30 attacks, Al-Dhalea had the biggest share of the Houthi escalation. Meanwhile, the Houthis launched about 12 attacks against Yafa and Kirsh fronts and 3 attacks against the Shabwa Defense Forces in the border areas of Merkhah Al Ulya and Beihan in addition to 4 attacks against the Southern forces in Harib.

In Abyan, the Southern forces were targeted with 2 attacks on Thura front the adjacent to Al-Bayda.

The Houthi militias largely relied on drones to carry out 17 attacks while they used mortars 12 times. They made 9 failed infiltration attempts which led to violent clashes, northwest of the Al-Dhalea and Hayfan front in Lahj. 

Additionally, they carried out 9 attacks by using artillery and machine guns as well as 9 sniping operations on the Yafa, Kirsh, and Al-Dhalea fronts. Some attacks cause civilian casualties as well as damage in homes and farms northwest of Al-Dhalea. Moreover, the militias launched a missile against Merkhah Al Ulya district on May 31.