Weekly security briefing 19052019

Hadi’s Minister of Planning

Hadi’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Najib Al-Auj said on 10 May that Yemen will need a baseline $28-billion-dollar fund for reconstruction efforts over the next four years. In the long term, Yemen’s reconstruction could run a bill as large as $60 billion for post-war restoration of institutions, stability and security. Auj told Asharq Al-Awsat that revamping the country’s ailing health, education and power sectors and rehabilitating city infrastructure figure high on the government’s agenda. He also stated that the government is working to fix the general budget deficit, which was announced earlier this year for the first time in four years and subsequently ratified at last month’s parliamentary session in Sayoun

Signs of Hope

On 15 May, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths briefed the UN Security Council (UNSC) on progress in the implementation of the Al-Hudaydah agreement. He reported that the UNMHA had verified the withdrawal of pro-Houthi forces from the ports of Salif, Ras Isa and Al-Hudaydah. According to Griffiths, this progress will allow the UN to play a “leading role” in supporting management, inspections and enhanced monitoring by UNVIM at the ports. Griffiths said he was grateful to the Houthis and their leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi for their commitment and following through on their promises, while he also underlined that the Hadi government was still showing their commitment to the agreement. He added that it was necessary to build on the momentum of redeployment, seizing the opportunity to move forward with implementing the other measures of the AlHudaydah Agreement. Griffiths also reiterated that any peace process would have to include the south. However, he warned that despite the progress in AlHudaydah, intensification in other parts of the country was a reminder that progress could easily be reversed, closing his remarks saying, “we must not allow war to take peace off the table”.

Two Saudi oil-pumping

This week saw the first major crossborder attacks since the start of the Al-Hudaydah ceasefire with the pro-Houthi drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.

The drone strikes caused minor damage to one of the stations supplying a pipeline running from its oil-rich Eastern Province to the Yanbu Port on the Red Sea, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

Sana'a

Heavy airstrikes hit Sana’a city and surrounding areas on 16 May in retaliation to the drone strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure. In the capital, Nuqoum in the north of the city, the former First Armoured Division camp in Ma’ain, the missile brigade camp in Attan, and Al-Nahdain in Sab’ein were all struck, as well as a house on Al-Rebat Street that killed seven civilians and wounded at least 50 more. Outside of the city, the Sama’a military camp and the Bait Duhrah area in Arhab and the Al-Arqoub camp in Khawlan were also hit by airstrikes. Earlier in the week, pro-Houthi forces claimed to shoot down an MQ-1 surveillance drone in the Dayan area of Bani Matar district on 14 May. Shortly after, a coalition airstrike targeted the wreckage of the drone.

Al-Dhale

In Al-Dhale Governorate, this week has witnessed heavy clashes in the centre district of “Qa’atabah” that resulted to many casualties from both sides, on 16th May the IRG forces launched massive military operation from three axes that resulted to liberate the town of “Qa’atabah” and the areas of “Jos-Al-Gamal”,”Shadad valley” north of “Habil-Al Salama” and Al-Obari, in addition to the farms near the areas close to “Hajer” , currently heavy clashes reported in the areas of Kardah-Al Sofla, Hamar entrance, and the road to Al-Fakhir, west of district, the second phase of IRG military operation is aiming to secure the road connected “Qa’atabah” town to “Naiql- Murais and Al-Sheem” to reopen the road to the northern region.

Aden

Regarding the incident of assassinated a member in the presidential council of Al-Hirak on 6th of May, investigations indicated to the involvement of family member in the case, which is turned the case from political to criminal and reduced the political tension with STC.

Rather than the IED attack in Dar Saad district that have targeted military vehicle and resulted to kill one soldier, the overall situation in Aden during the week recorded calm.

However criminal incidents and small armed disputes that are occurring over personal interests, gains continue to occur and most likely staff movement will not be affected.

Taiz

Security Taiz succeeds in arresting the great terrorist Bilal al-Wafi "Abu Al-Walid" accused of ICRC Cross staff Lebanese Hanna Lahoud and the abduction of a number of journalists and the manufacture of explosive devices.