Yemeni vice presidential council member: new weapons, decisive battle looming against Houthis

Yemen’s Vice Presidential Leadership Council member Tareq Saleh said the Houthi group is suffering losses on multiple fronts.

Saleh confirmed that government-aligned forces are preparing for a decisive battle as new weapons and capabilities are set to enter service soon. This comes after a Houthi escalation, reportedly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which included attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea in an attempt to impose a blockade on Yemenis, according to Al Arabiya.

He added that the Houthis are unable to withstand direct confrontation, while Yemeni forces continue to strike them across various fronts. The introduction of drones into the conflict has further disrupted Houthi operations. Saleh noted that the Houthis targeted Yemen’s western coast with 56 ballistic missiles and 44 drones, which struck civilian sites and ports along the coast.

Saleh accused the Houthis of using residents in areas under their control as human shields against government forces, luring citizens by claiming they are fighting the United States and Israel. However, many locals reportedly oppose the group’s actions and participate only under pressure.

He continued that Yemeni forces have cut off maritime supply and smuggling routes between Iran and the Houthis, limiting Tehran’s ability to use the group to control key sea lanes. Saleh explained that western coast forces have denied Iran the use of the Bab Al-Mandab Strait as a bargaining chip amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.