Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 02, 2025

Saudi Coalition, Yemeni Allies Capture Energy-Rich Shabwa Province From Houthis

Saudi Coalition, Yemeni Allies Capture Energy-Rich Shabwa Province From Houthis

Analysts say recent Saudi coalition airstrikes have weakened Houthi capabilities on the ground
In Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition and its Yemeni allies have captured all of the country's energy-rich Shabwa province. The development deals a blow to pro-Iranian Houthi rebels who control the country's capital, Sanaa, and much of the north of the country. Analysts say the victory gives the pro-Saudi coalition a way toward retaking parts of adjacent Marib province, which is also a major energy prize.

Arab media broadcast video of Saudi coalition forces and their Yemeni tribal allies on the ground advancing on desert areas of Marib province Tuesday, after capturing all of Shabwa province Monday.

Both the coalition and the Houthis have been vying for key parts of Marib for months.

Saudi coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al Maliki told a press conference in Riyadh Tuesday that "the battle to recapture Marib began at dawn Tuesday and is now continuing."

The Houthis reportedly have acknowledged in private that they lost Shabwa but have made no public statements.

Yemeni analyst Mohammed Qameim told Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV that recent Saudi coalition airstrikes on Houthi forces and their weapons stockpiles have "degraded the Houthis’ military capabilities and pushed them back in Shabwa and Marib provinces."

The Saudi-backed government of exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi controls the city of Marib, but the Houthis still hold other energy-rich regions of Marib province. The Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles and rockets into the city, killing and wounding scores of civilians.

Middle East analyst Paul Sullivan of the Atlantic Council told VOA that the Saudi coalition's victory in Shabwa means that it now "controls a large percentage of the effective coastline in southern Yemen," and that this is a "building block for putting Yemen back together again."

Shabwa, he noted, "has significant oil and gas fields....as well as two ports for exporting energy." He added that its main port of Balhaf has a liquid natural gas facility.

Theodore Karasik, a Washington-based Gulf analyst, says there has been a serious increase in military and diplomatic activities in Yemen, being driven by the perception that the United States is not playing an active role in trying to resolve the conflict, leaving the stage open to other players.

"The perception in the region is that the U.S. is not being helpful with any kind of settlement (of the Yemen conflict) or helping the players achieve their strategic goals, so you see Russia and China and Iran beginning to enter into the negotiating picture in a much stronger way," Karasik said.

Officials from the United Arab Emirates, which is part of the Saudi coalition in Yemen, have visited China in recent days, while Iran's foreign minister was in Oman Monday to meet with a Houthi delegation.

Tehran supports the Houthis in Yemen militarily. The Houthis are reportedly seeking more weapons after Saudi coalition airstrikes destroyed various Houthi assets, including rockets, missiles and drones at Sanaa’s airport.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
×