BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:50 P.M.) – The Ansarallah Movement, also known as the “Houthi forces”, are on a tear in the northern region of Yemen recently, as their troops continue to advance around the last government stronghold inside the Marib Governorate.
According to the latest reports from Yemen, the Ansarallah forces are advancing inside the Maghdal District of Marib, while some of their other units seize territories in nearby areas around the administrative capital.
In particular, the Ansarallah forces have seized the village of Al-Zakhim and its surroundings after a fierce battle with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops in the Marib Governorate this week.
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Making matters worse for the Saudi-backed forces, as many as 20 of their members have defected to the Ansarallah Movement in the Marib Governorate, which comes at a time when the government and Islah troops suffer several major setbacks near the administrative capital.
In addition to the administrative capital, the Ansarallah Movement is eyeing Marib’s strategic oil fields, which the exiled Yemeni government fears will boost the economic strength of the former inside Yemen.
While seizing these oil fields may have a major impact on the government’s finances, the Ansarallah Movement’s territories are currently under a land, air and sea siege, which has been imposed by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition.
The Ansarallah Movement has responded to this siege by launching attacks inside Saudi Arabia and within the vast waters of the Red Sea, which has recently aggravated Riyadh, as some of its ships have been subjected to maritime mine attacks.
