‘Al Bayda’ Victories Revive Hopes for Ending Houthi Coup in Yemen

Two Yemeni army fighters on one of the fighting fronts in Marib (AFP)
Two Yemeni army fighters on one of the fighting fronts in Marib (AFP)
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‘Al Bayda’ Victories Revive Hopes for Ending Houthi Coup in Yemen

Two Yemeni army fighters on one of the fighting fronts in Marib (AFP)
Two Yemeni army fighters on one of the fighting fronts in Marib (AFP)

Clear-cut victories achieved by pro-government forces against Houthis in Yemen’s central governorate of Al Bayda have revived widespread hopes for defeating the Iran-backed militia once and for all.

Frustrated by battlefield losses, Houthi ranks quickly collapsed against advances mounted by the army and armed popular resistance forces.

Over the last two days, local popular resistance forces and army units such as the Giants Brigade, backed by fighter jets of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, staged a far-reaching military campaign dubbed “Al-Najm Al-Thaqib” (Piercing Star) against Houthi positions in Al Bayda.

Forces loyal to the internationally recognized governorate are looking to free Al Bayda from Houthis as its strategic location connects it to eight other Yemeni governorates.

On Monday, Yemeni forces liberated Al Bayda’s entire al-Zahir district, including surrounding areas. Freed territories were fully secured before pro-government forces started advancing towards the governorate’s capital city, Al Bayda.

According to Yemeni military sources, the Giants Brigade played a significant role in supporting local fighters in recapturing their villages and towns that Houthis gripped for nearly seven years.

For its part, the internationally recognized Yemeni government stated that military wins in Al Bayda expose just how breakable Houthi formations are and reassert local rejection of the Iran-aligned militia.

“The popular resentment in the areas under the control of Houthi militias proves that their control is fragile,” said government spokesperson Rajih al-Badi.

“If all Yemeni forces unite--from the army to the tribes and popular resistance--these racist militias will be defeated,” he confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that post-liberation celebrations prove how unhappy locals were under Houthi oppressive rule.

Praising the joint effort by pro-government forces, the Yemeni government spokesperson said he also believes that the victories in Al Bayda “will undoubtedly affect the rest of the governorates positively.”



UN: Lifelines Keeping People Alive in Gaza Are Collapsing

21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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UN: Lifelines Keeping People Alive in Gaza Are Collapsing

21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appalled by an accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Gaza "where the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing," his spokesperson said on Monday.

"He deplores the growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"Israel has the obligation to allow and facilitate by all the means at its disposal the humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and by other humanitarian organizations."

Israeli ground troops for the first time Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors.

Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages’ families said it was “shocked and alarmed” by the incursion, which was confirmed by an Israeli military official, and demanded answers from Israeli leaders.

Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks.

The UN food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. Gaza's Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine.