Eric Jeunot, PhD

Intl. Relations & ME Studies - Interplay of Intl. Norms and Dom. Tribal Norms in Interstate Negotiations - Views are my own and RT not endorsement

[Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari]

The Houthis’ recent capture of #Yemen’s #RedSea coast is reshaping the regional landscape. In this piece for MEI’s The Middle East Beyond the #Iran War collection, @MahmoudianArman & I examine the #Houthis’ evolving role in Iran’s Axis of Resistance and why Yemen matters more than ever.
https://t.co/XxjYehSoXz

[Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari]

4) Why this matters: these steps indicate that Riyadh is strengthening its defences & regional backing, while working with the Yemeni government to prepare for ground operations against the #Houthis. The military, political & religious messaging is now aligned, but the coming weeks will show whether this is deterrence or preparation for an offensive.

[Laurent Bonnefoy @LaurentBonnefoy]

Ma contribution en dix points dans @Grand_Continent @CERI_SciencesPo https://t.co/8ZbzyAIhm5

[Ahmed Nagi @AhmedNagiYE]

A very good piece on the battle of Mokha by @mohammedalqadhi, highlighting how the Houthis prepared for the offensive while divisions and weak coordination undermined government forces, leading to the rapid collapse of the western coast https://t.co/n2DNjxhhlu

[Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari]

Mainstream narratives on #Yemen are too often shaped by agendas or simply a lack of understanding, telling only half the story. I highly recommend following @yemenexplained for much-needed context, nuance, and perspectives that are too often missing from the conversation.

[Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari]

Just to put this in context, tribesmen often use the term “tribes” when referring to groups of tribesmen. So the use of “tribes” here does not mean that entire tribes, as collective entities, are involved. The Houthis, however, deliberately refer to these groups as “tribes” to create the impression that they have the backing of entire tribes, which is not the case.

[Quentin M. @MllerQuentin]

À lire si voulez aller plus loin et savoir qui était le fondateur des Houthis.

[Quentin M. @MllerQuentin]

Qui sont les #Houthis, épisode 1 et 2.
Deux épisodes complets avec des informations riches.
Abonnez-vous !
https://t.co/qmw7HsztvN

[Quentin M. @MllerQuentin]

Replay de mon passage ce matin sur @FRANCE24 pour parler du Yémen.
https://t.co/VTSNBuZvuL

[Quentin M. @MllerQuentin]

La nouvelle carte des forces en présence au Yémen publiée par le @SanaaCenter.

[Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari]

The #Houthis now control #Yemen’s entire #RedSea coast & strategic islands overlooking Bab al-Mandab. #Iran now has leverage over both Hormuz & Bab al-Mandab—two of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

[Ibrahim Jalal | إبراهيم جلال @IbrahimJalalYE]

Yemeni Armed Forces declared Hays district, Hodeidah, fully liberated.

This secures the Hays axis, opens manoeuvre toward Mafraq al-Udayn, threatens a Houthi reinforcement route into western Taiz & creates options to push the counteroffensive north, southeast and east.

[Basha باشا @BashaReport]

#Yemen #SITREP | BLUF: The Houthis achieved some initial gains during a surprise, multi-axis offensive across western Taiz, temporarily capturing several positions and threatening areas overlooking the Taiz-Mocha corridor. By the end of the first day, however, government and allied tribal forces had recovered much of the lost ground, while Houthi attacks on several other axes were contained or repelled.

The initial Houthi plan appears to have fallen short of its broader objective. The front did not collapse, the Taiz-Mocha corridor was not severed, and attempts to expand the offensive toward other strategically important positions were stopped.

The immediate focus is Jabal Numan [13.418544615870932, 43.86770529841354], which overlooks the Ta'izz-Mocha road. Anti-Houthi coalition forces are expected to attempt to recapture the remaining Houthi-held positions on the mountain within the next several hours. Fighting is already continuing around the area with support from local fighters.

One of the most important failed Houthi advances occurred north of Hays, where Houthi forces attempted to capture Jabal Dhu Ba's. The mountain overlooks the Hudaydah-Ta'izz junction and surrounding approaches. National Resistance forces @nrfyemen repelled the attack, preventing the Houthis from taking the high ground and expanding their gains on this axis.

The arrival of Nation's Shield Forces @diralwatan and Southern Giants Brigades @alamalikah is expected to help stabilize government-held areas, reinforce weakened sectors and provide fresh forces for counterattacks. Additional reinforcements and supplies continue to move toward the Taiz and western coast fronts.

Elsewhere, the Popular Resistance [tribal fighters] says it has retaken positions in Jabal Habashi, including positions around Tabbat al-Khazzan. Government forces have also intensified attacks against Houthi positions on the Maqbanah front with heavy artillery support.

Heavy clashes continue around Al Ubaydiyah and Al Hajan in the Al Kadha sector near the Taiz-Mokha road, where the fighting continues to affect traffic.

An initial casualty count cited by @AFP put the death toll at at least 80, including 42 Houthi fighters and more than 30 government troops. Three Houthi field commanders were also reported killed during the fighting.

Reinforcements from the Nation's Shield Forces and Southern Giants Brigades have now reached the Taiz and western coast fronts, with some units already participating in combat. Their deployment should give government forces greater depth to hold recovered positions while preparing further counterattacks.

The first day therefore ended with a mixed battlefield picture. The Houthis gained ground through the initial surprise and speed of their multi-axis assault, but much of that ground was subsequently recovered. Their attempts to generate a broader breakthrough, cut the Ta'izz-Mocha corridor and seize Jabal Dhu Ba's north of Hays failed during the first day.

But this was only day one.

The next phase is likely to be more difficult. Both sides are reinforcing, several positions remain contested, and control of Jabal Numan remains a key immediate objective. The coming hours will likely center on attempts by anti-Houthi forces to recover the mountain, consolidate their lines and prevent another Houthi push toward the Ta'izz-Mocha corridor.

[Middle East Institute @MiddleEastInst]

"Countering the Houthis does not require US boots on the ground. It requires US leadership."

That was the message from Associate Fellow @Ndawsari in her Congressional testimony this week: real, lasting pressure on the Houthis comes from territory — and the US can empower Yemenis to take it back.

Click here for the full hearing and written testimony ⬇️ https://t.co/4vOke096Ap

[Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari]

1) Today I had the honor to testify before @HouseForeign on the Houthi threat to U.S. interests & #RedSea security.
The #Houthis are no longer just a #Yemen problem. They have both the intent and capability to threaten U.S. interests.
https://t.co/1wVoLasGnV

[Ali Al-Sakani | علي السكني @Alsakaniali]

Proud of Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari for delivering a clear, courageous, and deeply informed voice for #Yemen before Congress. Excellent testimony that deserves to be heard.

[Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari]

For the past few years, I've been researching the #Houthis' expansion in the Horn of Africa. Very excited that our report is finally out, co-authored with @peterjsalisbury & @PuntlandPirates, with contributions from a great group of researchers across the region.
https://t.co/8DhpmmVEHv

[ACLED @ACLEDINFO]

Tensions between the #Houthis and #Saudi Arabia escalated into open conflict last month. Between 13 July and 14 August, the Houthis carried out 16 attacks against Saudi assets, including oil facilities and tankers.
🔗https://t.co/tCG0bzV1X6

[Maged Almadhaji ماجد المذحجي @MAlmadhaji]

Yemen today stands at its most critical juncture since the 2022 truce, as internal and regional shifts threaten to pull the country back into full-scale war. Houthi attacks on shipping and cross-border strikes with Saudi Arabia, alongside renewed mobilization on domestic frontlines, point to a possible slide back into war. This comes as the regional order around Yemen is redrawn due in part to the US-Israel war on Iran and its impact on regional geopolitics and the security landscape, as well as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, marking a wider move by countries in the region to broaden their security options.  The prospects for a lasting Yemeni peace process hang in the balance.

Arab Center Washington DC and Sana’a Center are convening a panel of experts to examine how these shifting alignments are reshaping the strategic environment around Yemen, how the US-Israel war on Iran is impacting domestic and regional dynamics, and how Yemen in turn is shaping the calculations of Gulf and international actors. Panelists will discuss the internal military and security shifts, Houthi capabilities and strategy, the evolving new regional architecture and its impacts on Yemen, US policy approaches to the Houthis and Yemen, the viability of UN mediation efforts, and the prospects for a political process to end the war.
Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Arabic and English

@ArabCenterDC https://t.co/qKojl1bvCv

[Nadwa Dawsari @Ndawsari]

The #Houthis’ recent escalation against Saudi Arabia & Yemeni government forces may reveal a broader shift in Saudi strategy. After years of de-escalation, Riyadh seems to be strengthening its options in #Yemen, the #RedSea & across the region.
My latest
https://t.co/oDig43z3CB