Battle for Marib province

See also AQAP ISIS and forces fighting alongside them



Background

 * Ma'rib (Yemen Civil War) Wikipedia
 * 2020 al-Jawf offensive Wikipedia
 * The strategic importance of Jawf province liberation for Yemeni Ansar Allah - ISWNews, March 5, 2020
 * The Battle for Yemen’s Marib and its Strategic, Economic and Military Significance - Al Mayadeen, February 20, 2021
 * The strategic importance of Ma’rib: Saudi-backed Hadi’s ‘last stronghold’ - Middle East Observer, February 25, 2021

2021 offensive

 * @Suriyak - After a week of reinforcements & preparations, #Houthis/#Ansarullah restarted offensive to capture #Marib city... February 7, 2021
 * Iran-backed Houthis resume offensive in Yemen’s Marib - AFP, February 8, 2021 (Via Alarabiya)
 * Yemen: Latest Updates of Al-Jawf and Marib Fronts - ISWNews, February 8, 2021
 * Houthis Strike Saudi-backed Forces In Marib And Al-Jawf With New Power (Map Update) - SouthFront, February 8, 2021
 * Feb 18 According to Al Mayadeen, representatives of the Sanaa government issue a statement accusing Al-Islah forces of using displaced persons as human shields.


 * Latest Updates on Marib Front, 20 February 2021 (Map Update) - ISWNews.com, February 20, 2021
 * Feb 21: Saudi coalition airstrikes continue as Ansarallah forces capture village near Marib Dam. Eastward advances by Ansarallah in al Jawf to the north of Marib city are reported. An operation to free captives from a prison in Marib city is announced by authorities in Sanaa.


 * Weekly report on Marib Feb15-22 (Map Update) - ISWNews, February 22, 2021
 * An important news was dispatching of vast number of ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorists and also two brigades of National Resistance (commanded by Tariq Saleh) by Saudi coalition to west of Marib city front. ISIS official media releasing a statement declaring war against Ansar Allah in Marib...
 * Mar 1 Control of the heights of the Jabal al Baqal mountain overlooking Marib dam has been fiercely contested in recent weeks. Tony Toh: Yemeni Army & Houthi Ansarullah have made surprising advances at southern shore of Marib Dam lake. They are setting to take complete control of Jabal al-Balaq (al-Awsat side). After that they will reach Al Jubah line to cut off pro-Hadi supply route.


 * Weekly report on Marib fronts Feb 23 - March 3 (Map update) - ISWNews, March 2, 2021
 * ... the news of Ansar Allah heavy casualties in order to maintain al-Balaq mountain or control these heights until March 1, is not true.


 * Yemeni forces reach Ma’rib Dam - Emad AlMarshari, HodHod News Agency, March 8, 2021
 * Fading Phase: Frontline Stabilized in the Battle of Marib - RIAFAN, April 14, 2021 (in Russian)
 * Yemen: Houthis continue to advance on Marib, as fighting leaves dozens dead - MEE, April 16, 2021
 * April 16


 * @suriyakmaps - Sirwah axis: #Ansarallah advanced N. Az-Zur village & cut Jabal al Balaq al Qibli-Al-Talat al-Hamra road after advance along pipeline. Also Sanaa forces took control over western part of Jabal al Balaq al Qibli, including the summit.
 * ISWNews Twitter - Ansar Allah reportedly captured parts of al-Balaq al-Qabli mountain and clashes continue to liberate these important and strategic heights.
 * Tony Toh Twitter - Pro-Ansarullah military correspondent in #Marib: Contrary to some reports, its not true that Marib Dam fell completely to Yemeni Army & Popular Committees hand as its currently under contested by both sides.
 * May


 * Anasrullah Spokesman: Any UNSC Initiative Must Serve Interests of Entire Yemeni Nation - Fars News Agency, May 4, 2021
 * Local sources, requesting anonymity, said Yemeni armed troops and Hadi loyalists have been intensely exchanging artillery shelling since Saturday dawn on the outskirts of Tala’at al-Hamra area. Yemeni army forces and fighters from allied Popular Committees have also been able to advance toward Wadi al-Mill area Northeast of Ma’rib city, and have repelled attacks on the areas of al-Qabaqayb and al-Hanafir.
 * July


 * Costly and critical: The battle for a key Yemeni city - Samy Magdy, AP, July 7, 2021
 * August
 * Aug 11:Pro- Ansarallah sources claim Al-Islah recruiting takfiri mercenaries to fight in Marib


 * Aug 14: Pro-coalition sources report Hadi forces recapturing of positions in southern Marib
 * November


 * Latest Updates on the Southern Front of Hudaydah and Marib, 20 November 2021 (Map Update) - ISWNews, November 20, 2021

Bayda-Marib Axis

 * Yemeni forces score major gains in Bayda, Ma’rib - IUVM Press, June 29, 2020
 * HOUTHIS CAPTURED 400KM2 FROM SAUDI-BACKED FORCES IN CENTRAL YEMEN - Southfront, June 30, 2020
 * Video: Yemeni military liberates vast areas from Saudi-paid mercenaries in Marib and Albydaa governorates - YemenWrath, June 30, 2020
 * Twitter thread with same


 * Eastern Lion - More progress were made in AnsarAllah(Houthi) operation against Al-Qeada&ISIS terrorists in northern Bayda. village of Khabzah, al-Hatab, Nufan mountain and Aqaba Zaj have been captured. Joint artillery&drone attacks were carried out by AnsarAllah forces.
 * Ansar Allah heavy attack in north of Baydha and south of Marib (Map Update) - ISWNews, August 12, 2020
 * Ansarallah forces on the verge of eliminating Al-Qaeda/ISIS pocket in central Yemen - Al Masdah, August 12, 2020
 * Details of Ansar Allah operation against ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorists in northwest of Baydha - ISWNews, August 22, 2020
 * Video: Ansarallah(Houthi) offensive against Al-Qeada & ISIS in northwestern Bayda governorate - Eastern Lion, August 22, 2020
 * Video: Despite Saudi airstrikes Houthi forces capture ISIS positions in central Yemen - R&U Videos - August 23, 2020
 * Al Bayda liberation from ISIS and al-Qaeda dropped last chapters of aggression forces plan to occupy province, open front towards capital Sana'a: Security source for "Saba" - Saba, August 23, 2020
 * Mansour Hadi launch an operation to capture Baydha province - ISWNews, July 3, 2021
 * Yemen: Biden Shrugs Off Campaign Promise as US Backs New Saudi Offensive and AQAP Support - Ahmed Abdulkareem, MintPress, July 13, 2021
 * Army Spokesman: The Liberation of Two Districts in Al-Bayda: Video+Photos - Yemen Extra, July 31, 2021

Reactions from the 'International Community'

 * Looming battle for Yemen's Marib city risks humanitarian disaster - Paul Adams, BBC, February 25, 2021
 * Yemen official warns dam will break if rebels take Marib - Jon Gambrell, AP, November 21, 2021
 * Taking Marib, or otherwise cutting it off, would represent a major prize for the Houthis. It is home to oil and gas fields that international firms including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Total SA have interests. Marib’s natural gas bottling plant produces cooking gas for the nation of 29 million people. Its power plant once provided 40% of Yemen’s electricity.

Peace Talks, Oman
 * Sana'a Rejects Any Security Council Resolution Not In Yemen's Interest - Al Mayadeen, May 4, 2021
 * Yemen war peace efforts break down, UN envoy says - The Nation Press, May 5, 2021
 * ...the rebels insisted on opening the Sana’a airport to unlimited destinations, including Iran, lifting restrictions on the seaport and the complete cessation of Arab coalition airstrikes before they would consider halting their deadly offensive on the central city of Marib.


 * Hopes for Yemen peace deal fade as ‘obscene’ Marib death toll rises - Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, May 7, 2021


 * From what one can make out, it appears that the Houthi delegation were unsatisfied with proposals to ease the blockade in return for a ceasefire In Marib, expecting a more widespread halt to hostilities. There is no mention that there was any offer to end coalition airstrikes. It seems that influence of foreign powers eclipses any potential reconciliation between Hadi officals and Ansarallah.

See also
 * Houthis unmoved so far by US diplomacy to end Yemen war - Al Monitor, July 8, 2021

Action for Humanity

 * David Nott and Ammar Darwish Return from Yemen Mission - David Nott Foundation, May 28, 2021
 * Yemen's Marib: The city at the heart of a dirty war - Jeremy Bowen, BBC News, December 1, 2021
 * A team of British surgeons from the charity Action for Humanity who have also worked in Syria and Gaza spent a week in Marib at the end of November, bringing specialised techniques for war injuries.

Action for Humanity is the parent company of Syria Relief, directed by Othman Moqbel. Who was removed as head of another Manchester based Islamic charity Human Relief, when multiple failings in the organisation were [found in an investigation. It "...was found to be culpable of misconduct after it failed to report for months that extremists in Syria had seized its aid lorries and a warehouse, the UK's charity regulator said.

Internally displaced persons camps
To do

Bin Ghaleb (Twitter) November 17, 2021 - ''Local sources in Marib said that the coalition warplanes targeted the vicinity of a camp for the displaced south of the city of Ma'rib with two air raids this afternoon. According to the sources, the targeting of the camp occurred despite the fact that the camp site is far from confrontations and no military force is present there. Observers believe that the targeting of the camp by the coalition aims to throw the blame on Sana'a forces to condemn them internationally.''

Analysis

 * Yemen’s Marib Offensive Born of Desperation, with No Sign Saudis/US Will Cease Their War - Ahmed Abdulkareem, Mint Press, March 12, 2021


 * Why Marib's liberation will break the Saudis and shake West Asia - Karim Shami, The Cradle November 12, 2021