The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that militias in Yemen are planning a ground offensive against the Houthis, seeking to take advantage of the momentum created by the recent wave of US strikes.
According to US officials, groups in Yemen see an opportunity to oust the Houthis from at least the coastal areas along the Red Sea, which have been under the control of the Iranian-backed terrorist organization in recent years.
Sources familiar with the matter said that American private-sector defense contractors have even provided advice to Yemeni elements regarding the potential offensive. Yemeni and American sources added that the United Arab Emirates, which supports those forces, presented the plan to US officials in recent weeks.
US open to supporting ground assault
American officials revealed that the US is open to providing assistance for a ground assault by local forces in Yemen. However, they noted that no decision has been made yet on whether to support the effort. The officials clarified that the US is not leading discussions on such an attack. Still, the talks are centered around strengthening local actors affiliated with Yemen's internationally recognized government, which controls territory in the war-torn country's south.
"Ultimately, security in the Red Sea is the responsibility of our regional partners, and we are working with them to ensure that shipping lanes remain safe and open in the future," US National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes told the Wall Street Journal last week.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni website Defense Line reported overnight that the US carried out 15 strikes on Houthi sites and outposts in Marib province, targeting areas from which missiles and drones had been launched.
