Battle of Dhale

Last updated

Battle of Dhale
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) and the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Date24 March – 26 May 2015
(2 months and 2 days)
Location
Dhale, Yemen
Result Pro-Hadi victory
Belligerents

Flag of Yemen.svg Houthi government [1]

Flag of Yemen.svg Hadi government

Commanders and leaders
Yemeni Republican Guard Flag.svg Abdullah Dabaan [6]
(33rd Armoured Brigade commander)		Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Brig Gen Saleh Salem Saleh  †
Flag of Yemen.svg Aidarus Al-Zubaidi [7]
Casualties and losses
186+ killed [8] 62+ killed [9]
46 civilians killed [10] [11]

The Battle of Dhale was a key fight in 2015 for control of Dhale, Yemen, between the Houthis and Yemen Army units loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh on one side, and militiamen and Yemen Army units loyal to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi on the other side.

Battle

On 24 March, Houthi forces seized administrative buildings in Dhale and were advancing in the city during heavy fighting. A battle for the camp of the 33rd Armoured Brigade ended in the afternoon with 10 anti-Hadi fighters dead. [12] Later, pro-Hadi fighters counter-attacked in the town and beat back the Houthis. [13]

On 30 March, the Houthis entered the city after nearly a week of fighting. [14] The town was reportedly split in half between the two opposing side, [15] while a sheikh in the city stated the Houthis were in control of Dhale, but with sporadic fighting continuing and both sides suffering "a large number of casualties". [16] At this time, a Yemen Red Crescent Society ambulance driver was killed when his vehicle was hit by gunfire. [17]

On 31 March, secessionist fighters allied to Hadi traded artillery fire with the Houthis and army units loyal to Saleh. In addition, repeated air strikes hit Houthi and allied positions, including an ammunition store at a military base. Around 30 Houthi and allied fighters, along with nine southern fighters, were killed during the day. [18]

On 1 April, a pro-Houthi army brigade was said to have "disintegrated" after being pummeled by coalition warplanes. The commander of the 33rd Brigade reportedly fled and groups of pro-Houthi troops withdrew to the north. [6] 10 Hadi militiamen were also killed in street battles. [19] The next day, the town was reported to be under pro-Hadi control, but with Houthi sniper fire continuing. [20]

On 4 April, the Houthis captured the town's central prison and freed 300 inmates who they gave a choice between joining their ranks or remaining incarcerated. [21]

On 5 April, coalition air-strikes targeting Houthi positions in the city hit a residential area and killed five civilians. [22] The next evening, 19 Houthi and 15 pro-Hadi fighters were killed in heavy fighting. [23]

On 8 April, more air-strikes hit Houthi positions in Dhale. [24]

A local official claimed 40 Houthi and three pro-Hadi fighters had been killed in fighting between 12 and 13 April. [25] Three children were also killed when a shell hit their house. [11] On 19 April, more fighting and air-strikes killed 31 Houthi and 17 pro-Hadi fighters. [26]

In fighting between 22 and 25 April, at least 43 pro-Houthi and eight tribal fighters were killed, according to pro-Hadi sources. [27] [28] [29] Between 27 and 28 April, more than 50 fighters on both sides were killed. [30]

Ambushes on 3 and 24 May, left 13 Houthi fighters dead. [31] [32]

On 26 May, pro-Hadi fighters captured Dhale, as well as the command center of the 33rd Armoured Brigade. [33]

On 9 August, pro-Hadi forces captured the rest of Dhale Governorate after heavy fighting for a little more than two months. [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houthi insurgency</span> 2004–2014 political-religious armed movement escalating into the Yemeni Civil War

The Houthi insurgency, also known as the Houthi rebellion, the Sa'dah War, or the Sa'dah conflict, was a military rebellion pitting Zaidi Shia Houthis against the Yemeni military that began in Northern Yemen and has since escalated into a full-scale civil war. The conflict was sparked in 2004 by the government's attempt to arrest Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, a Zaidi religious leader of the Houthis and a former parliamentarian on whose head the government had placed a $55,000 bounty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Dammaj</span> Battle of the Yemeni Revolution

The siege of Dammaj began in October 2011 when the Houthis, a rebel group which controls the Saada Governorate, accused Salafis loyal to the Yemeni government of smuggling weapons into their religious center in the town of Dammaj and demanded they hand over their weapons and military posts in the town. As the Salafis refused, Houthi rebels responded by imposing a siege on Dammaj, closing the main entrances leading to the town. The town was controlled by the Houthis and the fighting was mainly centered at Dar al-Hadith religious school, which was operated by Salafis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 in Yemen</span> List of events

The following lists events that happened in 2015 in Yemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yemeni crisis</span> Ongoing crisis occurring in the country of Yemen

The Yemeni crisis began with the 2011–2012 revolution against President Abdullah Saleh, who had led Yemen for 33 years. After Saleh left office in early 2012 as part of a mediated agreement between the Yemeni government and opposition groups, the government led by Saleh's former vice president, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, struggled to unite the fractious political landscape of the country and fend off threats both from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and from Houthi militants that had been waging a protracted insurgency in the north for years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aftermath of the Houthi takeover in Yemen</span>

The aftermath of the Houthi takeover in Yemen refers to developments following the Houthis' takeover of the Yemeni capital of Sana'a and dissolution of the government, which eventually led to a civil war and the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Aden (2015)</span> Battle of the Yemeni Civil War

The Battle of Aden was a nearly four-month battle in 2015 for the control of Aden, Yemen, between Houthis rebels and Yemen Army forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh on one side, and Yemen Army units loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and Southern Movement militias on the other side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yemeni civil war (2014–present)</span> Ongoing civil war in the state of Yemen

The Yemeni civil war is an ongoing multilateral civil war that began in late 2014 mainly between the Rashad al-Alimi-led Presidential Leadership Council and the Mahdi al-Mashat-led Supreme Political Council, along with their supporters and allies. Both claim to constitute the official government of Yemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war</span> Saudi war against Houthis in Yemen launched in 2015

On 26 March 2015, Saudi Arabia, leading a coalition of nine countries from West Asia and North Africa, launched an intervention in Yemen at the request of Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who had been ousted from the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 by Houthi insurgents during the Yemeni Civil War. Efforts by the United Nations to facilitate a power sharing arrangement under a new transitional government collapsed, leading to escalating conflict between government forces, Houthi rebels, and other armed groups, which culminated in Hadi fleeing to Saudi Arabia shortly before it began military operations in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abyan campaign</span> Campaign of the Yemeni Civil War

The Abyan campaign was a 2015 campaign for control of the Abyan Governorate of Yemen, between the Houthis and Yemen Army units loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh on one side, and militiamen and Yemen Army units loyal to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi on the other side, supported by jihadists of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The pro-Hadi forces recaptured the Abyan Governorate on 11 August 2015, after launching an offensive on pro-Houthi forces in early August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shabwah campaign</span> Campaign of the Yemeni Civil War

The Shabwah campaign was a campaign for control of the Shabwah Governorate of Yemen, between the Houthis and Yemen Army units loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh on one side, and militiamen and Yemen Army units loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi on the other side. The offensive was also launched during a previously started AQAP offensive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lahij insurgency</span> Insurgency of the Yemeni Civil War

The Lahij insurgency was a guerrilla war in 2015 waged by tribesmen loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi against the Houthis and Yemen Army units loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, who controlled most of the Lahij Governorate of Yemen. In late July, pro-Hadi forces had launched an offensive to recapture Al Anad Air Base and the rest of Lahij Governorate. On 4 August, pro-Hadi forces had retaken full control of the Lahij Governorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Taiz</span> Conflicts in and around Taiz, Yemen, in the civil war from 2015–present

The siege of Taiz is an ongoing, protracted military confrontation between opposing Yemeni forces in the city of Taiz for control of the city and surrounding area. The battle began one month after the start of the Yemeni Civil War.

In early December 2015, two Yemeni towns, Zinjibar and Ja'ar, were captured by the jihadist group Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). This was the second capture and occupation of Zinjibar during unrest in Yemen. The town was earlier taken by AQAP's in May 2011 and held until the summer of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aden unrest (2015–2019)</span> Conflict in southern Yemen between government, separatists and Islamists

The Aden unrest was a conflict between Islamist factions, such as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's Yemen Branch, against the loyalists of president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and later to conflict between UAE-backed and Saudi-backed factions within the coalition. In 2017, fighting also broke out between factions aligned with different members of the Saudi-led coalition namely Saudi Arabia-backed Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and Al-Islah and UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council and Southern Movement.

The Battle of Port Midi refers to a battle during the Yemeni Civil War between the Saudi coalition-backed Hadi loyalists and the Houthi government. Although Hadi loyalists seized the port, the Houthi fighters along with the popular committees managed to conduct some attacks around Midi. The conflict also had spillovers in the rest of the Hajjah Governorate. On 26 January 2017, Hadi loyalists extended their control to Harad District in Hajjah Governorate.

The following is a timeline of the Yemeni civil war, which began in September 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marib campaign</span> Campaign of the Yemeni Civil War

The Marib campaign, also called Marib offensive, is an ongoing military campaign in the Yemeni civil war for the control of the Marib Governorate of Yemen. Fighting between the Houthi forces and factions of the Yemeni Army loyal to Supreme Political Council on one side, and Yemeni Army units loyal to president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and militiamen on the other side, has taken place since early 2015. Marib is rich in oil and gas resources and is a key strategic governorate because it connects the Houthi-controlled Sanaa and Alimi-controlled Hadhramaut governorates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Giants Brigades</span> Yemeni government militia in the Yemeni Civil War

The SouthernGiants Brigades, transliterated as Al Amalikah or Al Amaliqah, or simply known as the Giants Brigades, is a pro-government Yemeni militia. Its fighters are mostly Southern Yemeni tribesmen from Lahej, Abyan and Dhale. They include Salafi students of Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi'i's Dar al-hadith religious institute in Dammaj, Saada that were expelled by the Houthis in early 2014. The militia is part of the Yemeni Joint Forces and is the largest faction in the formation. The Giants Brigades also receives extensive support from the United Arab Emirates militarily and financially.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Jawf offensive</span>

The Al Jawf offensive was a Houthi offensive that began in February 2020 with clashes in the Al Jawf Governorate during the Second Yemeni Civil War. Houthi forces were able to decisively capture the town of Al Hazm on 1 March 2020 from the Hadi government. On 27 April, the first phase of the offensive ended with the Houthis capturing 3,500 square kilometers of territory in Al Jawf Governorate. After reinforcing, the Houthis launched the second phase of their offensive on 27 May, making further advances toward the city of Marib and capturing the Maas military base on 20 November, 2020. The Houthis halted the offensive on 5 February 2021, in order to account for changes in the Saudi-led coalition and Southern Transitional Council. After reinforcing once more, the Houthis launched a new offensive towards Marib city on 7 February.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Marib</span> Battle to capture last stronghold in North Yemen

The Battle of Marib is an ongoing battle that began in February 2021 following the advance of the Houthis towards the city of Marib, the capital of Marib Governorate in Yemen controlled by the Cabinet of Yemen.

References

  1. ↑ Orkaby, Asher (25 March 2015). "Houthi Who?". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Mazzetti, Mark; Kirkpatrick, David D. (25 March 2015). "Saudi Arabia Begins Air Assault in Yemen". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Felicia Schwartz, Hakim Almasmari and Asa Fitch (26 March 2015). "Saudi Arabia Launches Military Operations in Yemen". WSJ. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Pakistan ready for ground offensive in Yemen: report". the globe and mail. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes in Yemen". CNN. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Pro-Houthi brigade disintegrates in Yemen's Ad Dali". World Bulletin. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  7. ↑ demolinari [@demolinari] (10 March 2017). "Colonel Al-Subaihi led Southern Resistance under Cmdr Aidarus Al-Zubaidi during the liberation of #Dhale, Al-Musaymir, #Kirsh. #SouthYemen" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ 10 killed (24 March), 30 killed (31 March), Archived 2015-03-31 at the Wayback Machine 19 killed (6 April), 40 killed (12–13 April), 31 killed (19 April), 8 killed (22 April), Archived 2015-04-23 at the Wayback Machine 23 killed (24 April), 12 killed (25 April), 5 killed (3 May), 8 killed (24 May), 163 reported killed
  9. ↑ 9 killed (31 March), Archived 2015-03-31 at the Wayback Machine 10 killed (1 April), Archived 2015-10-06 at the Wayback Machine 15 killed (6 April), 3 killed (12–13 April), 17 killed (19 April), 12 killed (25 April), 62 reported killed
  10. ↑ Yemen: Escalating Conflict Flash Update 6
  11. 1 2 "UN Security council to vote on Yemen Huthi resolution". AFP. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Les forces hostiles au président resserrent l'étau sur Aden" (in French). Romandie. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Hadi forces check Houthi push towards Yemen's Aden". Reuters. 24 March 2015. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 30, 2015 - Critical Threats" . Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  15. ↑ ABC News. "Saudi-Led Forces Strike Yemen Rebels, Blockade Ports". ABC News. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Fighting spreads into five southern governorates". Yemen Times. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Jordan News Agency (Petra) -WHO deplores deaths of health care workers in Yemen". Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Heavy clashes on Saudi-Yemeni border; Hadi government pleads for troops". Reuters. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Yemen Houthi fighters backed by tanks reach central Aden". Reuters. April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Yemen's Houthis seize central Aden district, presidential site". Reuters UK. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "Shiites free hundreds of prisoners in Yemen, officials say". thestar.com. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  22. ↑ Senior Yemeni Sunni leaders abducted by Shiite rebels
  23. ↑ "Yemen clashes kill more than 140 as aid delayed". AFP. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "Yemen's Houthis battle in central Aden, first medical aid arrives". Reuters. 8 April 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Gulf Daily News » World News » Yemen unrest driven by Iran's hunger for power" . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "Yemen rebel leader vows resistance against Saudi-led air war". AFP. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  27. ↑ "Saudi-led coalition launches air strikes throughout Yemen: residents". Reuters. 23 April 2015. Archived from the original on 23 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  28. ↑ "Air raids kill 23 rebels in Yemen south: Govt official". Zee News. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  29. ↑ "63 killed, dozens wounded in fighting, airstrikes in southern Yemen - Shanghai Daily" . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "Dozens of fighters killed in continued violence - Yemen Post English Newspaper Online" . Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  31. ↑ yemeni media center. "- Houthis shell residential areas in Dhale" . Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "Heavy exchange of fire destroys Saudi-Yemen border crossing". 25 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  33. ↑ In blow to Yemen's Shiite rebels, pro-government forces retake city that's gateway to Aden
  34. ↑ "Yemen fighters 'liberate' southern province". Al Arabiya. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.

13°42′18″N44°44′00″E / 13.7050°N 44.7333°E / 13.7050; 44.7333

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.