ANSD : ‘Little Sparta’s’ battle for Hudaida

SAT 23 - 11 - 2024

Date: Jun 19, 2018
Source: The Daily Star

‘Little Sparta’s’ battle for Hudaida

_{Jon Gambrell| Associated Press}
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates is better known for oil riches and skyscraper skylines, but right now it is conducting what could be a crucial offensive in Yemen’s 3-year-old war. While the overall conflict in the Arab world’s poorest country has been led by Saudi Arabia, the ongoing battle for the Red Sea port city of Hudaida has fallen squarely on the shoulders of the UAE, a federation of seven emirates.

Emirati troops, along with irregular and loyalist forces in Yemen, have been fighting against Iran-backed rebels known as Houthis for Hudaida since Wednesday. But fighting has been fierce and Emirati troops have been killed, with Houthi propaganda videos showing their armored vehicles disabled and set ablaze.

A top Emirati official acknowledged how the campaign for Hudaida goes will determine the likelihood of an end to Yemen’s war. But it also will prove how serious the UAE’s military is after billions of dollars of weapons purchases and previous stints as peacekeepers abroad.

“From our perspective, three years of war is enough. It is time for the political process,” Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash told journalists at a news conference Monday. “If the Houthis don’t want to start the political process, we will force them to start the political process.”

The UAE, previously called “Little Sparta” by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, has a Western-armed military of 63,000 troops.

Its expeditionary forces already have served in Afghanistan and as peacekeepers in Kosovo.

Abu Dhabi’s powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, has taken on a muscular neoconservative posture with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in the war in Yemen.

The Arab-led force entered Yemen’s war in March 2015 to support the country’s ousted government against the Iranian-aided Houthis.

So far, there have been “four or five civilians” killed, Gargash said, which he blamed on the Houthis.

There have been no casualty figures released by international aid groups since the offensive began, as they evacuated their international staff and locals remain hiding in their homes.

“We will not be pulled into an ugly fight where we have to move into civilian” areas, Gargash said.

“We will take our time.”

The Houthis have as many as 3,000 fighters around Hudaida, Gargash said.

He declined to offer the nationalities nor the numbers of troops now fighting in the coalition around the port, only saying it had “numerical superiority” over the Houthis.

At least 250 Houthis have been killed in the fighting so far, he said.

The Arab-led coalition hasn’t received active targeting help from the U.S., though it has offered guidance on avoiding civilian casualties in the past and midair refueling.

Those airstrikes face widespread criticism for hitting marketplaces and hospitals, causing numerous civilian casualties.

Asked what help the U.S. is providing in Hudaida, Gargash declined to offer specifics. However, he acknowledged a French offer to help with demining the waters around Hudaida.

He made a point to deny in Arabic the presence of any French forces on the ground in Hudaida, a claim reported Saturday by the French newspaper Le Figaro.

For now, he said he hoped the campaign would aid U.N. special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths’ efforts to get a cease-fire and have the Houthis leave Hudaida.

“We are still counting on the U.N. attempt to try and pull a rabbit out of the hat,” Gargash said.

Readers Comments (0)

Add your comment

Enter the security code below*


Can't read this? Try Another.