Al Bayda offensive
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) and Marib Campaign

Map of the offensive
  Pro-Houthi Government control
  Pro-Hadi Government control
Date17 May 2020 – 1 September 2020
Location
Al Bayda Governorate, Yemen
Result Houthi victory
Territorial
changes
Belligerents

Yemen Supreme Political Council

Yemen Cabinet of Yemen

al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula[4]

Islamic State ISIL-YP[3]
Commanders and leaders
unknown Yemen Brig. Gen. Abdulrab Al-Asbahi[1]
(Chief of the Bayda military command)		 Abu Al-Walid Al-Adani †[3]
(ISIS Emir in Qifah District)
Strength
unknown unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
60 casualties[1]
(Acc. Hadi Government)		 unknown 250 casualties[1]
10 captured[5]
(Acc. Houthi)

The Al Bayda offensive began in late July 2020 with the restart of military operations by Houthis forces in Al Bayda Governorate, during the Second Yemeni Civil War against forces of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, the Islamic State in Yemen and military forces loyal to the Government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Al-Hadi.

Prelude

In early 2020, Houthi forces were achieving territorial gains in al-Jawf Governorate and Marib along the main highway that links those governorates,[6] with the aim of controlling the Bayda-Marib axis.[7]

The battle

On 21 June, Houthis-led forces fought its way in the Baydha Governorate, with the aim on reaching Mahilia area and attack Marib by the South.[8] According to Pro-Hadi government media the Houthi offensive on Al-Nahma area, Mahliyah District of Marib, left tribesmen loyal to the government and soldiers in a dire situation of being attacked from the South.[9]

On 30 June, Houthi forces made further advances on the north of Badya and the south of Marib, seizing 400 km2 of terrain and inflicting 250 killed, wounded and captured Pro-Hadi Government forces.[10]

On 12 August, Houthi sources reported advances on the Marib front against ISIS and Al-Qaeda forces located in the southeast of Marib and Saudi led forces in the southwest.[11]

On 19 August, the spokesperson of the Houthi movement, Gen. Yahya al-Sari, said that after military operations the districts of Walad Rabi and Quraishiyah were captured by Houthi forces. According to al-Sari Houthi forces seized 1,000 km2 of terrain from control of Jihadist groups (Al-Qaeda and Islamic State in Yemen), inflicted 250 killed, wounded and captured whilst destroying 12 enemy bases.[12]

On 22 August, Houthi media revealed the advances made by Houthi fighters against Al-Qaeda and Islamic State forces in Badya. According to Yemeni media Houthi fighters seized M47 Dragon missiles, M2 Browning machine guns and supplies of the World Food Programme from jihadist forces.[13]

Aftermath

On 23 September 2021, Houthi forces said they captured three districts from Al-Badya governorate effectively controlling the province.[14][15] The Ministry of Defense of the Houthi government dubbed the result as a "strategic victory" over Al-Qaeda and ISIS-Y.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Scores of Houthi fighters killed in central Yemen fighting". Debriefer. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "Yemeni Armed Forces reveal details of large-scale operation against al-Qaeda and Daesh". Archived from the original on 2022-01-10. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  3. 1 2 3 "Anasrallah forces kill high-ranking ISIS leader in Yemen". Al Masdar. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "11 Yemen soldiers killed in clashes and rebel attack". AlJazeera. 17 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Four al-Qaeda leaders arrested in Bayda". 22 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Ansarallah forces on the verge of eliminating Al-Qaeda/ISIS pocket in central Yemen". Al Masdar. 12 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Yemeni Army captures important sites in Al-Bayda after heavy battle with Ansarallah forces". Al Masdar. 25 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  8. ↑ "Fiercest hostilities pitting Houthis against tribes in Yemen's Baydha". Debriefer.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "Tribal sources have warned of the seriousness of the situation on the borders of the southern Marib governorate, with the Houthi militia continuing to mobilize to the outskirts of Radman District and trying to deploy to the Mahlia District, adjacent to it". yemen News. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson press conference regarding the operation in north of Baydha". Islamic World News. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ansar Allah heavy attack in north of Baydha and south of Marib (Map Update)". Islamic World News.
  12. ↑ "Latest Updates on Baydha Front, 19 August 2020 (Map Update)". IWN. 19 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Yemeni media reveals footage of massive victory over terrorist groups on Bayda". Althawranews. 22 August 2020.
  14. ↑ Asmar, Ahmed (23 September 2021). "Houthi group claims control of al-Bayda province in central Yemen". Andalou Agency News.
  15. ↑ "Houthis say take control of entire Bayda province in central Yemen". Debriefer. 23 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Yemeni Minister of Defence congratulates military forces on liberation of Bayda province". Hodhod News. 24 September 2021.
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