UAE-Backed Forces Foiled Houthis Infiltration In Western YemenSouth Front

On January 21, Saudi-backed forces foiled an infiltration by Houthi fighters near Hays district center in the southern part of the western Yemeni province of al-Hudaydah.

“Heavy clashes broke out between the [Saudi-backed] joint forces and Houthi personnel who attempted to sneak towards the frontlines west of Hays,” a military source told the media wing of the Giants Brigades, one of the factions which took part in the clashes.

According to the source, the Houthis sustained heavy losses in the clashes, which lasted for around two hours. Heavy weapons were used by both sides.

In a related development, the Giants Brigades, which are backed by the UAE, claimed that their unit had spotted five drones of the Houthis flying over different parts of al-Hudaydah in a “violation” of the UN-sponsored ceasefire.

The Saudi-led coalition and its proxies imposed control of Hays in February of 2018. A ceasefire in al-Hudaydah was announced by the UN in December of the same year. Nevertheless, low intensity clashes have been still ongoing to this day.

According to the Houthis, the Saudi-led coalition and its Yemeni proxies violate the ceasefire in al-Hudaydah on a daily basis.

UAE-Backed Forces Foiled Houthis Infiltration In Western Yemen

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The Liaison and Coordination Officers’ Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 138 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah during the past 24 hours.
On January 20, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on the Madghal area.
On January 20, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 3 airstrikes on the Qifah area.
On January 20, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 4 airstrikes on the Khab and Shaaf area.
On January 20, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 4 airstrikes on the Haradh area.
On January 20, the US Treasury Department designated the Ansar Allah movement as a terrorist organization.
On January 21, an explosion took place in the Abdulaziz district of Aden city.

Despite the repeated violations by both sides, the UN-sponsored ceasefire in al-Hudaydah is still holding. The last two years saw no large attacks by the Houthis or the Saudi-led coalition and its proxies.

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