Screen grab from one of the videos released by the Giants Brigades’ Media Center.
On January 25, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Giants Brigades and other proxies of the Saudi-led coalition captured the district center of Harib in the central Yemeni province of Ma’rib from the Houthis (Ansar Allah).
Houthi forces in Harib showed fierce resistance, repelling at least three attacks on the district center on January 12, 14 and 19. However, ultimately they were overrun by the coalition’s proxies after sustain some heavy losses.
The Giants Brigades’ final push on Harib was backed by the Saudi-led coalition, whose warplanes carried out 67 airstrikes on Houthi forces in Ma’rib and the nearby province of al-Bayda between January 24 and 25. According to the coalition, the airstrikes killed 290 Houthi fighters and destroyed 43 military vehicles of the group.
#Yemen:#Shabwah #Marib:
Following the capture of Mablaqah #YNA & Giant Brigades took control of the center of Ain (عين) district. In addition, with the collapse of #Ansarallah, the troops took control over Jabal Shaqir & the town of Harib (حريب).
Map: [ https://t.co/jZQFNHYbT5 ] pic.twitter.com/jKNfZNqYve— @Suriyak (@Suriyakmaps) January 24, 2022
After withdrawing from Harib district center, the Houthis blew up Aqabat Mal’a, a mountainous route that links Harib with the district of al-Jubah.
The Giants Brigades and other Saudi-led coalition proxies may develop their ground operation in Ma’rib and advance towards al-Jubah to push the Houthis further back.
The Houthis will not likely limit their actions to defensive operations. The group may escalate its drone and missile attacks. The UAE, which was targeted twice in less than two weeks, has been already threatened by the group’s media wing.
