Sanaa, Yemen – Naef has been a government soldier in southern Yemen for nine years. When he joined government forces in 2016—at just 19—he thought the Yemeni government’s war against the Houthi rebel group would be brief. A decade has passed, and the conflict remains volatile, with the Houthis remaining in Sanaa.
Neff was clear about the reason for the government’s failure – a lack of unity and a clear command structure. For years, government troops and other anti-Houthi fighters have been pursuing conflicting agendas across the country, with many fighters in the south supporting the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). A solution to that divide, Neff thought, was a long way off.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
However, recently, things have changed. The STC’s decision to attempt to take over all of southern and eastern Yemen backfired, and Saudi Arabia supported pro-government troops in pushing the group back. The STC has now split, with one leader fleeing and others announcing that the group has been disbanded.
Yemen’s UN-recognised authority, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), led by President Rashad al-Alimi, seized the initiative and, on January 10, established the Supreme Military Committee (SMC), with the goal of overseeing all anti-Houthi military units and integrating them into the official Yemeni military under one command.
Al-Alimi said the SMC would ultimately be a means to defeat the Houthis and reclaim all of Yemen.
SMC’s announcement marks a dramatic turn in a decade-long war, and Naef is now – finally – hopeful.
“I am optimistic today because the government has revived some of its power in southern Yemen,” he told Al Jazeera. “The formation of an inclusive military committee boosts our morale and is a prelude to the return of a powerful government.”
Sainik believes that, after years of inertia, the situation has finally changed for the government. After nine years of experience on multiple fronts, Neff now thinks the government – with Saudi Arabia’s support – is capable of making incursions into Houthi-controlled northern Yemen if negotiations fail.
Neff said, “The PLC, with the support of the Saudi leadership, has achieved remarkable success in the south over the past few weeks. It has once again proven to be an indispensable party in the conflict. Whether this success will be short-lived or permanent remains to be seen.”
Concerns and Disobedience
The formation of the SMC has created a sense of anxiety among Houthi supporters in northern Yemen.
Hamza Abdu, a 24-year-old Houthi supporter in Sanaa, describes the new military committee as “an attempt to organise a proxy in the south”.
Hamzah said, “This committee may end the friction between terrorist groups in the south, but it will deepen the subordination of the south to Saudi Arabia.” The Houthis have often framed their opponents as proxies controlled by foreign powers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Iran itself supports them.
In light of the developments, Hamza shared one concern: the resumption of war between the Houthis and their opponents, which has been largely stalled since 2022.
He said, “If this Military Committee succeeds in uniting the armies in the South, it may tempt them to attack the North.” “A new devastating war will begin, and humanitarian hardships will increase.”
Like many civilians, Hamza now fears that the war will start again. But Houthi leaders – warning that their forces must remain vigilant – are still confident, saying the formation of the SMC will not affect their power or weaken their control.
Pro-Houthi military expert Aziz Rashid believes that the SMC will not change the status quo, arguing that any future confrontation with the Houthis “will only serve the agenda and plans of the United States-backed Zionist entity [Israel].”.
Rashid indicated that Houthi forces in Sanaa “faced international and powerful military forces, including the United States, Britain and Israel, and stood firm against “Rashid stated that Houthi forces in Sanaa “faced international and powerful military forces, including the United States, Britain, and Israel, and stood firm against them during the last 10 years.”
Rashid said the only solution for Yemen is a political settlement.
The Iran-backed Houthis captured Sanaa in September 2014 and overthrew the UN-recognised government in February 2015. They say they are the only legitimate authority ruling Yemen.
The Houthis have faced attacks from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel since 2023, when the Yemeni group began attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Israel after the Houthis declared solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
a terrible message.
Defeating the Houthis may be easier said than done, given the failure of the Saudi-backed coalition with overwhelming air power in the early years of the war and the group’s now extensive combat experience and possession of advanced weaponry, including drones and missiles.
But if the Yemeni army truly reorganises itself and integrates the various anti-Houthi forces on the ground, an opportunity may exist.
Adel Dashella, a Yemeni researcher and non-resident fellow at the MESA Global Academy, said that if the SMC is able to provide security and stability in the area under its control, it may also be able to improve the lives of Yemenis living there – and put itself in a stronger position in any negotiations with the Houthis.
Dashelaa told Al Jazeera, “The next step is the beginning of a political process to reach an agreement with the Houthi group. If the peaceful option fails, military action becomes necessary.”
Abdussalam Mohammed, head of the Yemeni Abad Study and Research Center, believes that recent events – both inside and outside Yemen – provide a perfect opportunity for the government to confront the Houthis.
“A limited military operation destroyed the UAE-backed STC within days,” Mohammed said. “What happened to the STC in the south sent a terrible message to the Houthis in the north. The Houthis are not invincible.”
According to Mohammed, certain factors have currently increased the Houthis’ vulnerability.
“Iran is going through a major crisis, and this could weaken Tehran’s Houthi proxy. Given the economic and governance issues in the areas under their control, popular muted anger against the group is growing. Moreover, the UAE’s exit from the south will help the Yemeni government shift the fight against the Houthis to the north,” he said.
desperate for orders
Armed groups have grown rapidly in Yemen in the last decade. The result is a weak government and prolonged war. Amid the chaos, the population has suffered the brunt.
Fawaz Ahmed, a 33-year-old resident of the southern city of Aden, hopes that the establishment of a military committee will end the presence of armed groups in Aden and other southern cities.
Fawaz hopes that the formation of the SMC will bring two immediate benefits to Aden: an end to illegal wealth accumulation by militias and the disappearance of infighting between competing armed units.
He recalled an incident in Aden’s Khormaksar district last August, when two military units clashed at the headquarters of the Immigration and Passport Authority, causing the facility to be closed for several days.
Fawaz said, “Commanders of armed groups issued conflicting instructions and soldiers opened fire on each other. This clearly points to the absence of united leadership. Therefore, the declared military committee will prevent such confrontations.”
“We are desperate for law and order,” Fawaz said. We are desperate for a city that is free from an unnecessary military presence. This is a collective dream in Aden. Only a united military leadership can achieve this.”
