Saudi-Backed Forces in Yemen Retreat From Red Sea as Houthis Advance
Saudi-backed forces in Yemen said on Sunday they were withdrawing from the Red Sea coast, where they had spent weeks fighting to retake strategic territory from the Iran-aligned Houthi militia. The Southern Armed Forces, allied with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, said in a statement that they were “redeploying” to protect Aden, the interim capital, citing recent battlefield developments and “threats targeting” the city.
Aden has been the government’s seat for more than a decade, after the Houthis seized Sanaa, the Yemeni capital. The retreat is a setback for the government and its ally Saudi Arabia as analysts said the civil war’s balance of power continues to tilt toward the Houthis. Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst for Yemen at the International Crisis Group, said the Houthis are determined to reach Aden and do not want any area left under government or Saudi-side control, seeking to take over everything at this moment.
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