Yemeni Army Thwarts Houthi Advances in Marib

Yemenis shop at a market in Sanaa ahead of Eid al-Fitr next week. (AFP)
Yemenis shop at a market in Sanaa ahead of Eid al-Fitr next week. (AFP)
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Yemeni Army Thwarts Houthi Advances in Marib

Yemenis shop at a market in Sanaa ahead of Eid al-Fitr next week. (AFP)
Yemenis shop at a market in Sanaa ahead of Eid al-Fitr next week. (AFP)

The Yemeni army, backed by tribal fighters and air cover from the Saudi-led Arab coalition, thwarted on Monday several attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in western Marib, Yemeni military sources said.

The militias have been pursuing an offensive in Marib for four months now in an attempt to capture the oil-rich northern province from the legitimate government.

The development revealed that tribes in Marib, al-Jawf and nearby provinces have met the rallying call of the local authorities to support the army to push back the Houthis, added the sources.

As the Houthis intensified their attacks on the al-Kasara and al-Mashajah fronts, coalition jets intensified their strikes on militia positions in the Sirwah district, said military media.

Dozens of militants were killed and injured in the raids.

A military spokesman confirmed that the military has achieved victories on several fronts in Marib, Taiz, al-Dhale, Saada, al-Bayda, Hodeidah and Lahj.

In Marib, the people are supporting the army and national resistance’s perseverance to end the Houthi coup and their terrorist acts, he added.

The military and popular resistance have continued to make advances on the ground, thwarting all Houthi attacks and attempted infiltrations on the Sirwah, al-Kasara, Hilan, al-Moshaja, al-Makhadra and al-Jadaan fronts.

The Houthis are incurring dozens of losses every day on these fronts, he stressed. They are also losing weapons, equipment and armored vehicles, which are being seized by the army.

He said that the al-Kasara and al-Mashajah fronts in western Marib are witnessing the fiercest battles, with the military dealing the militias heavy losses.

The Houthis, meanwhile, have continued their ballistic missile attacks against civilians and refugees in the province. They are also continuing their sniper attacks and shelling of Hodeidah.

Several civilians, including women and children, have been wounded by sniper fire, in attacks that are tantamount to war crimes, charged the spokesman.



Lebanese President Faces Domestic, Foreign Challenges

Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
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Lebanese President Faces Domestic, Foreign Challenges

Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS

The election of a new president in Lebanon does not mean the country has come out of the economic and political crises which have gutted it for years. Yet Thursday’s vote marks the beginning of a new phase that carries many challenges for the president and the upcoming government.

It is Joseph Aoun’s responsibility now to appoint a prime minister following binding parliamentary consultations and then form the Cabinet together with the PM.

According to observers, Aoun’s term should carry a roadmap to salvage the country, and a clear plan to address crises and domestic and foreign challenges.

However, there is no magic wand to solve Lebanon’s entire crises.

Instead, Aoun needs a unified working team that should draft a clear ministerial statement that reflects the President’s inaugural speech and his pledge of a “new era” for Lebanon.

“The president's speech constitutes a detailed program for governance. However, his program needs a cabinet capable of implementing it,” former Minister Ibrahim Najjar told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Najjar described the new President as an honest, clean and courageous Lebanese man.

“His election must be followed by the formation of a bold cabinet with new faces, capable of working and making achievements,” he said.

“The Lebanese people expect President Aoun to change the quota-based mentality of politicians. They hope his term will help remove old political figures, who are rooted in the Lebanese quagmire,” the former minister noted.

Former MP Fares Souaid told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun’s first task is to implement the Constitution and the National Accord document.

“In the early 1990s, the Constitution was no longer being implemented due to the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In 2005, the Constitution was again ignored because of Iranian arms.”

Therefore, Soueid said, the Lebanese eagerly expect this new era to constitute a real opportunity for the implementation of both documents.

For years, Lebanon has failed to properly implement its Constitution and UN resolutions, mainly because some political parties had considered their implementation as “a target against their so-called resistance.”

“With the election of President Joseph Aoun, Lebanon has opened a blank page that could meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people, and write a new chapter in the country’s history,” Najjar said.

According to Soueid, Aoun has a task to return Lebanon to its Arab identity. “This is slowly beginning to show through the decline of Iranian influence in the region,” he said.

Also, Soueid said, the new President should mend Lebanon’s relations with the international community by implementing all UN resolutions.

Addressing Parliament and Lebanese people with an acceptance speech, Aoun on Thursday vowed that the Lebanese authorities will have the monopoly on arms and will be committed to a strong state that will extend its sovereignty over the entire territory.

“This is in line with UN resolutions, which if implemented, will bring Lebanon back to the Arab and international scene,” Soueid said.