Yemeni Military Official Accuses Houthis of Exploiting Truce to Mobilise for Attack
(AWP) - A Yemeni military official has accused the Houthis of attempting to exploit the current truce by mobilising and re-deploying their forces in preparation for a wide-scale offensive that could include all of Yemen.
Mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia and the UN succeeded in brokering a truce deal between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group in April, while the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, is working towards a permanent ceasefire that would cover all of Yemen.
Abdel-Basit al-Bahr, a spokesman for the Taiz Axis Command, said in statements to the Arab World Press (AWP) that the Houthis have “not stopped for a single day and are not ready for peace in any way.”
He added, “They are reinforcing their fronts and there is unusual mobilisation on all fronts of the Republic. The Houthis are exploiting the truce and the Saudi and UN efforts in the worst possible way to mobilise and reposition their forces, in preparation for the next round of the conflict that will be stronger than the previous ones.”
Bahr voiced the Yemeni government’s warning of a Houthi plot to escalate the situation militarily, attack the Marib governorate and attempt to ignite some fronts in Taiz and Shabwa.
He accused the Houthis of mobilising forces in various Yemeni provinces to achieve maximum conditions, especially regarding oil revenues and the payment of salaries to their affiliated armed elements.
The Yemeni military spokesman in Taiz also accused the Houthis of exploiting the war in Gaza and attempting to destabilise international navigation routes through piracy or targeting of cargo ships.
He said, “The Houthis pose threaten waterways and territorial waters and will continue to do so, whether by planting naval mines or using drones or missiles.”
Bahr continued, “However, we stress that we reject any foreign intervention to strike the Houthis because they are seeking any strike – even if limited – whether by the United States or Israel, to gain legitimacy and convey themselves as national heroes.”
Since the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, the Houthis have targeted several commercial ships crossing the Red Sea or the Strait of Bab al-Mandab, claiming that these vessels belong to or cooperate with Israeli companies.
Bahr emphasised that the Yemeni army is capable of countering Houthi threats if provided with the necessary weapons support.