The member of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen and governor of Marib, Sultán bin Ali al Arada, has held the Houthi rebels responsible this Saturday for closing the door to a political agreement and pushing the country back towards the military path, while emphasizing that the priority is to restore the institutions of the State and retake the capital, Sana'a.
In statements to the Yemeni television channel Saba, Al Arada defended that the internationally recognized authorities have invested the last years in trying to find a negotiated exit to the war and have accepted significant concessions in order to stop hostilities, protect the civilian population, and move towards a scenario of stability.
According to his account, also disseminated on social media, since 2022 the Presidential Leadership Council has placed the search for peace at the center of its roadmap, with the support of the United Nations, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and other countries. However, he has accused the Houthis of rejecting these proposals and returning the conflict to a phase dominated by armed confrontation.
The governor of Marib has linked this attitude to the political and military positions of the Houthis and their connections with Iran. In light of this situation, he has stressed that the authorities must adapt to a new reality in which the priority is to restore state control and end the dominance of the militias.
Al Arada has indicated that the recovery of the institutions of the State and the liberation of the areas controlled by the Houthis currently constitutes the central objective of the forces aligned with the Government, a goal that he has presented as a shared demand by Yemeni society.
Regarding the military situation, he has supported the actions of the Armed Forces on the different fronts and has emphasized that they are fulfilling their functions in support of the recognized authorities. The governor has also advanced that in the coming days favorable advances for the governmental forces could occur.
Marib, epicenter of the offensive
Al Arada has pointed out the province of Marib as one of the main scenarios of the conflict and has assured that the troops deployed there maintain as a priority the victory and support for the rest of the fronts. In this context, he has reiterated that the recovery of Sana'a remains the ultimate objective of military operations.
The Yemeni leader has admitted that reaching this goal will involve a high cost in lives and resources, but he has defended that the commanders and fighters situated on the front lines assume a historical responsibility in the defense of the State and of what he has described as "national dignity."
In relation to the recent events on the coast, Al Arada has acknowledged that it is a "painful and regrettable" situation, although he has minimized its strategic relevance by framing it within the dynamics of a war, marked by advances, setbacks, defeats, and victories.
In this sense, he has insisted that these episodes should not divert the objective of the government forces nor hinder their campaign. Thus, the governor has resorted to the expression "sacred battle" to define the struggle for the recovery of the State.
Al Arada has also expressed his confidence in the military commanders responsible for directing the operations and has reported the arrival in Marib of new troops from other areas. According to him, a camp has been set up to accommodate them and measures have been implemented to assist the people displaced from the coast.
In this framework, the governor has guaranteed that these displaced persons will be welcomed in Marib and has highlighted the willingness of the local population to provide them assistance. "Among their brothers," he has stated while describing the reception that the newcomers will have, whom he has equated with the inhabitants of the province in terms of rights and obligations.
At the same time, he has indicated that the units that left their positions on the coast are in a process of reorganization and has assured that they will return to the front "one way or another."
Social mobilization and regional support
The Yemeni leader has also highlighted the involvement of different sectors of the population in the war effort. In his view, the mobilization in various provinces demonstrates a high degree of commitment and national responsibility, as citizens do not limit themselves to waiting for the intervention of the Armed Forces.
According to Al Arada, part of the population contributes directly to the recovery of state institutions by sending fighters, weaponry, vehicles, and other resources.
Finally, the governor of Marib has valued the support received from allied Arab countries, with special mention to Saudi Arabia, which he has attributed an important role in supporting the Yemeni people.
The conflict in Yemen has been facing for years the Houthis, who control Sana'a and large areas of the north and west, with the forces aligned with the internationally recognized Government and its allies. Diplomatic attempts to reach a negotiated solution have coexisted with recurrent episodes of tension and fighting.