Immediately, the UN began crying foul, saying that a push threatened the civilians, and saying that “the peace process” was under threat.
The peace process in question is Saudi Arabia and Co. bombing civilian targets and not adhering to the al-Hudaydah ceasefire.
An assault on the city would put two million civilians at risk, with hundreds of thousands potentially forced to flee - with unimaginable humanitarian consequences. Now is the time to de-escalate, not to add even more to the misery of the Yemeni people.
— Mark Lowcock (@UNReliefChief) February 15, 2021
I’m very alarmed about the military escalation in Marib and its impact on the humanitarian situation.
— Mark Lowcock (@UNReliefChief) February 15, 2021
The Houthis seek to wrestle control of Marib, closing off Saudi-Arabia’s southern border and taking control of oil fields in the province that would give them leverage in possible peace negotiations.
Alarmed by the Houthis’ renewed push, the Saudi-led coalition bombed their advancing convoys in the sprawling desert around Marib. It also brought in ground enforcements from the government-held provinces of Taiz and Shabwa, the officials said.
So far, it appears that there is little progress on the side of Saudi Arabia.
Marib is the last stronghold of the Saudi-led coalition in the relatively calm central region of Yemen. This would also allow for the Houthis to push towards Saudi Arabia’s southern parts.
News sources claimed that more than 48 fighters were killed and over 120 were wounded on February 10th and 11th, with the majority of the casualties from among the Houthi rebels.
Two unnamed military officials from the Saudi puppet government said at least 16 pro-government forces were killed and 21 wounded in the past 24 hours, adding that “dozens were killed” among Houthi ranks.
The Houthis have cut off supply lines to a district about 50 kilometres south of the city, with “the goal to lay siege to Marib”, one of them said.
On February 14th, the kingdom intercepted two Houthi bomb-laden drones fired towards the southern garrison town of Khamis Mushait, the official Saudi Press Agency cited the Riyadh-led military coalition as saying.
However, a Houthi military spokesman said two rebel drones struck the airport in the nearby city of Abha.
source:southfront.org
