Yemeni Government Aims for Victory with New Military Commission Against Houthis

A New Direction in the Yemen Conflict

Sanaa, Yemen – Naef served in the government army in southern Yemen for nine years. When he joined the army in 2016 at the age of 19, he believed the Yemeni government’s war against the Houthi rebel group would be short-lived. Time has passed, and the conflict remains unresolved, with the Houthis still in Sanaa. Naef attributes the government’s failure to a lack of unity and a clear command structure. For years, government soldiers and other anti-Houthi fighters have followed conflicting agendas, many from the south supporting the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

Opportunities for Military Reintegration

Recently, the situation has changed. The STC's decision to try to take over all of southern and eastern Yemen had the opposite effect, with Saudi Arabia backing government troops in repelling the group. The STC is now divided, with one leader fleeing and others claiming the group has been disbanded. The Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the UN-recognized authority led by President Rashad al-Alimi, has taken the initiative and established the Supreme Military Commission (SMC) on January 10 to oversee all anti-Houthi military units and integrate them into the official Yemeni army under a single command. Al-Alimi stated that the SMC would be a crucial tool in defeating the Houthis and reclaiming all of Yemen.

Concerns and Rejections

The formation of the SMC has raised fears among Houthi supporters in northern Yemen. Hamza Abdu, a 24-year-old Houthi supporter from Sanaa, describes the new military commission as an "attempt to organize proxies in the south." The Houthis have often portrayed their adversaries as proxies controlled by foreign powers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while also receiving support from Iran. According to Hamza, this commission could provoke a fresh outbreak of violence between the Houthis and their opposition.

Opportunities for the Yemeni Government

Adel Dashela, a Yemeni researcher, asserts that if the SMC manages to secure the territories it controls, it could provide a stronger position for the government in potential negotiations with the Houthis. Abdulsalam Mohammed, from the Yemeni Abaad Studies and Research Center, believes recent developments offer the government an excellent opportunity to confront the Houthis. He mentions that a limited military operation recently faced the UAE-backed STC in a very short time, sending a strong message to the Houthis in the north: they are not invincible.

The Need for Order

Fawaz Ahmed, a 33-year-old resident of Aden, hopes that the establishment of a military commission will end the presence of armed groups in Aden and other southern cities. He expects it to bring two immediate benefits: an end to illegal money collection by fighters and the disappearance of internal conflicts between competing armed units. Fawaz stated, "We are desperate for law and order. A united military leadership is key to achieving this collective dream in Aden."