Calls to Liberate Hodeidah in Western Yemen
Yemeni politician Jamal Al-Awadhi, currently based in Paris, has called on the U.S. administration to begin supporting Yemeni forces with prior experience in fighting the Houthis—forces that were on the brink of liberating the strategic coastal city .The city was handed over to the Houthis under what was called a peace agreement, signed in Stockholm in December 2018 under UN sponsorship.
Al-Awadhi stressed that airstrikes alone are insufficient, noting that civilians bear the brunt of the conflict, as Houthi leaders often hide among them. He also stated that liberating Hodeidah would severely disrupt the Houthi militia, as most of the missiles threatening international maritime security are launched from the city.
A Strategic Stronghold in the Yemeni Conflict
Hodeidah is the lifeline of the Houthis, serving as their primary economic and logistical hub. Through the city's ports, the group secures crucial military supplies and financial resources, sustaining their war effort. In 2018, the Joint Forces, backed by the Arab Coalition, were just steps away from reclaiming Hodeidah. However, political interference, mismanagement by the Yemeni government, and the complicity of former UN envoy Martin Griffiths prevented the mission from being completed. This setback gave the Houthis a golden opportunity to regroup, fortify their positions, and manipulate the Stockholm Agreement to their advantage.
Stockholm Agreement: Peace or Surrender?
The Stockholm Agreement, signed under UN mediation in December 2018, became a lifeline for the Houthis. Instead of compelling their full withdrawal from Hodeidah, the deal provided them with a legal cover to maintain control. This allowed them to entrench their military presence, rearm their forces, and extend their influence. Many Yemenis consider the agreement not a peace deal but a surrender pact, which has enabled the Houthis to continue threatening Red Sea maritime security and launching terrorist attacks using missiles and drones.
A Golden Opportunity to Restore Military Momentum
With growing international pressure on the Houthis due to their escalated regional and global threats, and the possibility of revisiting the Stockholm Agreement, a real opportunity has emerged to complete the liberation of Hodeidah. The forces that previously advanced and nearly secured victory can be repositioned within a renewed military strategy, leveraging tactical advancements, battlefield experience, and upgraded weaponry.
Liberating Hodeidah: A Strategic Turning Point
Reclaiming Hodeidah would mark a pivotal moment in the conflict, delivering a crippling blow to the Houthis by:
1. Economically strangling the Houthis by cutting off their primary revenue streams from port activities.
2. Eliminating threats to maritime security in the Red Sea, a pressure point the Houthis have used to blackmail the international community.
3. Strengthening the Yemeni government militarily and politically, paving the way for further liberation operations across other regions.
4. Curtailing Iran's influence in Yemen, as Tehran relies on Hodeidah as a key gateway for smuggling weapons and military advisors.
Decisive Military Action: A Necessity, Not an Option
Given past experiences, any new attempt to halt military operations under the pretext of 'peace' may serve as another window of opportunity for the Houthis to reinforce their positions. Therefore, completing the liberation of Hodeidah is a critical step toward dismantling Houthi power. Without it, Yemen will remain trapped in a cycle of conflict and attrition.
The next phase requires a genuine commitment from the legitimate government, along with coordinated military and security support from the United States and the United Kingdom. This must be executed within a decisive military strategy that avoids political compromises—compromises that risk repeating past failures.
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