Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing
On December 15, a ballistic missile landed in the outskirts of the central Yemeni city of Ma’rib which is controlled by Saudi-backed forces.
Yemen sources claims that the missile was launched by the Houthis (Ansar Allah) who have been leading a large offensive to capture Ma’rib city for more than nine months now. According to the sources, the target of the missile attack was the Sahn al-Jin military camp that hosts Saudi-backed forces.
The missile missed the military camp, landing in an empty field. The attack didn’t result in any casualties or material losses.
صورة تظهر مكان سقوط صاروخ باليستي أطلقته #ميليشيات_الحوثي على مديرية الوادي في محافظة #مأرب#الحدث_اليمني pic.twitter.com/wDEBzd9P3J
— الحدث اليمني (@Alhadath_Ymn) December 15, 2021
Last week, the Houthis resumed their advance towards Ma’rib after a temporary halt. The group captured the Bulq al-Sharqi mountain which overlooks the southern outskirts of the city.
The Saudi-led coalition stepped up its airstrikes on Ma’rib frontlines in response to the Houthis’ advance. Between December 14 and 5, coalition warplanes carried out 24 airstrikes on Houthi forces in the province. The coalition said that 140 Houthi fighters were killed and 15 vehicles of the group were destroyed as a result of the airstrikes.
The Houthis will likely reach the southern outskirts of Ma’rib before the year’s end. It remains unclear however if the group has what it takes to storm the city. As for now, it appears that all sides want to avoid a battle inside the city.
