Haithis claim that they have captured a cache of Saudi arms, ammunition and vehicles. Scores of KSA army’s men and officers are also said to be under custody
The Yemen based and allegedly Iran backed rebel group Houthi has claimed capturing thousands of enemy troops including several Saudi Arabian troops in an attack carried out at border near the South-Western Saudi Arabia town of Najran.
The Houthi’s spokesperson – Mohammed Abdul-Salam said that 3 brigades of Saudi Arabia surrendered in the attack. The Houthi’s used drone, missile and air defence units in the attack. They have also taken into custody hundreds of armoured vehicles.
The Houthi’s said they want to inform Saudi Arabia that they are capable of penetrating into Saudi Arabian territories, in case the latter doesn’t stop suppressing Yemen. The Houthi’s who have major control over the Northern part of Yemen, have scaled up attacks across the Southern border of Saudi Arabia.
However, the Government of Saudi Arabia has not yet official confirmed the claim.
The captures troops have been put at an undisclosed area so that they can be kept away from the possible airstrike by Saudi Arabia. This is by far the biggest attack by Houthi’s ever since the conflict began between Yemen and Saudi Arabia in 2015.
Speaking on the occasion, the Houthi’s Spokesperson said, “They are assuring the families of the prisoners of war that they will be kept in a secret place in order to keep them safe from any harm.”
Talking about the success of their mission, he tweeted, “Operation ‘Victory from God’ is the largest military one since the brutal aggression began. The enemy suffered heavy losses … and wide swathes of territory were liberated in only a few days.”
That attack comes contradictory to the statement of President of Supreme Political Council of Houthi – Mahdi al-Mashat, who last week announced that Houthi group is ready to end the war with Saudi Arabia, provided Saudi Arabia and their allies also commit to restoring peace in the region. At that time the United Nations (U.N.) had also welcomed the offer.
For the records, the proposal from Houthi rebels came after they claimed the responsibility for September 14, 2019 attacks on 2 oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais in Saudi Arabia disrupting Saudi Arabia’s crude oil supply by 5.7 million barrels per day, which is 50% of its output. After the attack, the President of U.S. – Donald Trump spoke to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia – Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud, where the latter said that Saudi Arabia is willing and able to respond the recent drone attacks on its oil facilities.
The U.S. has blamed the Islamic Republic of Iran for the attack. It has also issued satellite images showing Iran’s involvement in the attack. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran has denied any involvement in the attack and has accused U.S. of promoting economic terrorism against Iran. On September 21, 2019, U.S. announced to send additional troops to Saudi Arabia to bolster Saudi Arabia’s air and missile defense system.
The war between Yemen and Saudi Arabia dates back to 2015 when Saudi Arabia led an intervention, with 9 countries from Middle East and Africa, in Yemen. It was in response to calls from the internationally recognized pro-Saudi President of Yemen – Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. The President of Yemen had requested for military support after he was ousted by the Houthi movement due to economic and political grievances. He then fled to Saudi Arabia.
The intervention is said to be in compliance with Article 2(4) of the United Nations (U.N.) Charter. The intervention initially consisted of a bombing Houthi rebels and later saw a naval blockade and the deployment of ground forces into Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition has attacked the positions of the Houthi militia, and loyalists of the former President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is allegedly supported by Iran.
Five years of fighting
The war in Yemen broke out in 2014 with an offensive by the Houthis against the Yemeni government.
September 21 marked the fifth anniversary of the Houthis’ capture of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
The Saudi-led coalition, backed by the Western powers, intervened in the civil war in March 2015.
The conflict in Yemen has killed tens of thousands and left millions on the brink of famine, in what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The UN said both the Houthis and the opposing coalition may be guilty of war crimes.
The latest violence could hamper the UN efforts to ease tensions and pave the way for talks in the long-impoverished Arabian Peninsula nation.
