The Independent: Controlling Marib is more valuable to the Houthis than any political settlement
English - Thursday 18 February 2021 الساعة 05:28 pm
Aden, NewsYemen:
The British newspaper The Independent reported, on Wednesday, the recent escalation in the fighting in Yemen, and linked the rise in the pace of war to the escalation of talk about peace.
The newspaper said, in a report prepared by "Borzo Daragahi", entitled "With the escalation of talk about peace in Yemen, the pace of war increased", that "at a time when diplomats are struggling to find a formula to end the six-year-old armed conflict in Yemen, the battles on the ground Getting more severe. "
The writer added: "The Houthi rebels launched attacks on Saudi territory in recent days, which showed an increase in boldness, while the Saudi-led forces continued air strikes to maintain the siege."
Analysts say that the escalation of the conflict in recent weeks, likely indicates that the conflicting parties are seeking to improve their conditions on the ground before any talks, according to the report.
Peter Salisbury, a researcher with the International Crisis Group, believes that "when they move towards a ceasefire or toward some kind of dealmaking, the parties try to increase the cost to everyone and improve their position."
And news agencies reported that the Houthis have strengthened their siege around Ma'rib, the last stronghold of the Aden government recognized by the United Nations in the north of the country.
According to the report, the fall of Marib, the site of many Yemeni oil wells, would be a major blow to the Aden government and its backers.
"If the Houthis take over Marib, they are changing the dynamic of the entire conflict ... so this is an incredible prize for them, and it may be more valuable than any political settlement they can get today," Salisbury said.
