Yemeni Houthis escalate conflict in Marib as US terrorist designation looms VIDEO

The Houthis have moved large numbers of fighters toward Yemen's Marib province, which remains under the control of the internationally recognized government.

This move comes ahead of the US designation of the Houthi militias as a foreign terrorist organization, a designation that is set to take effect shortly. Marib, an oil- and gas-producing region, holds significant strategic importance, making it a focal point in the ongoing conflict, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Military sources reported that thousands of Houthi fighters have been sent to the frontlines in southern and western Marib. These forces have been conducting limited attacks as they prepare for a larger offensive to seize control of key areas. This surge in military activity coincides with escalating efforts by the Houthis to disrupt the security situation in the region in anticipation of the US terrorism designation.

Los hutíes están declarando la guerra contra Estados Unidos e Israel mientras los Emiratos Árabes Unidos y Arabia Saudita han comenzado a bombardearlos. ¿Apoyas que estos terroristas sean borrados del mapa? pic.twitter.com/CtEOnMM8gl

— Eduardo Menoni (@eduardomenoni) December 24, 2024

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have ramped up their sabotage operations in recently liberated areas and continue to smuggle weapons into the country. The Yemeni military has responded by thwarting several Houthi attacks using artillery, Katyusha rockets, and sniper fire, particularly in Marib’s sensitive sectors. Despite these defensive measures, the Houthis are continuing to send reinforcements to the frontline, according to local military sources.

The Yemeni government has raised concerns that the Houthis are specifically targeting oil and gas fields under government control. These actions are seen as an attempt to create confusion and instability as the US blacklisting of the Houthis nears implementation.

Meanwhile, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has expressed alarm over the increasing violence. In his latest briefing to the Security Council, he highlighted reports of Houthi attacks on civilian areas, including the killing of two children in Al-Bayda province and wounding of others in an attack near Taiz. He called for an immediate halt to these operations.

In a defiant statement, Houthi leader Mohammed Muftah, appointed deputy prime minister of the self-declared Houthi government, warned the US against taking punitive actions that could target the group or Yemen’s economy. He characterized any such move as a declaration of war, vowing a strong response. Muftah urged the US to understand the gravity of the situation and pledged to resist any further “US conspiracies.”

By Vugar Khalilov