Abyan campaign (March–August 2015)

The Abyan campaign (March–August 2015) was a 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.[7] The Pro-Hadi Forces recaptured the Abyan Governorate on 11 August,[12] after launching an offensive on pro-Houthi forces in early August.[13]

Abyan campaign (March–August 2015)
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2015–2020) and the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen

Location of the Abyan Governorate within Yemen
Date26 March – 11 August 2015 (4 months, 2 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Abyan Governorate, Yemen
Result Cabinet of Yemen/Coalition victory
Belligerents

Supreme Political Council[1]

Cabinet of Yemen

  • Republic of Yemen Armed Forces
  • People's Committees
  • Popular resistance[2]

Supported by:

 AQAP[7]
Commanders and leaders
Abdul Nasser al-Junaidi[8] Ali Mohsen Al Ahmar Abu Hamza al-Zinjibari[7]
Abu al Zinad al Abyani[9]
Units involved

15th Armored Brigade[7]

Houthi fighters		 111th Infantry Brigade[7] AQAP fighters
Strength

200 soldiers

100 Houthi fighters

600 soldiers

400 popular committee fighters[7]		 600 fighters[7]
Casualties and losses
49 killed[7][10] 31 killed[7][11] unknown

The campaign

On 26 March, the 15th Armored Brigade, based in Lawdar, announced their support to the Houthis. In turn, the 111th Infantry Brigade, based in the Ahwar District, joined forces with pro-Hadi troops five days later. In addition, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) pledged to fight alongside pro-Hadi forces against the Houthis but clarified they were not loyal to Hadi.[7]

On 27 March, Houthi and allied army forces seized the city of Shuqrah on the Arabian Sea. The takeover gave them control of all land entries to Aden and completed their encirclement of the city where a battle was underway.[14] However, warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition began to bedevil the Houthis as they moved their heavy armour and vehicles toward Aden, with airstrikes halting a convoy from Shuqrah early on 28 March.[15]

On 29 March, pro-Houthi troops captured Zinjibar, the provincial capital and a center for pro-Hadi forces in the governorate. 20 people were killed during the takeover.[16] Heavy clashes took place between tribal fighters and Houthi-allied soldiers occupying a military camp and adjacent football field in the city, which was bombed twice by the Coalition.[17]

On 3 April, Houthi forces entered the districts of Jaar, Lawdar and Shuqrah. Pro-Hadi military sources claimed that the 111th Infantry Brigade had cut off supplies to the Houthis and their allies on 7 April, but a source in the pro-Houthi 15th Armored Brigade said they had supplies still coming from the Al Bayda Governorate to the north.[7] Sustained fighting took place during the day in Lawdar,[18] while pro-Hadi forces reportedly besieged the base of the pro-Houthi army brigade.[19]

On 25 April, at least 29 pro-Houthi fighters were killed in attacks throughout the province, according to an official.[10]

On 8 August, Pro-Hadi forces launched an offensive to retake the city of Zinjibar from Houthi militias after the pro-government forces retook Jaʿār and Lawdar.[20]

On 10 August, Pro-Hadi forces had retaken the provincial capital Zinjibar after just two days of fighting Houthi militias in the city, they will continue the offensive to retake the city of Shuqrah.[21] On 11 August, Pro-Hadi forces had recaptured the entire Abyan Governorate.[12]

References
  1. Orkaby, Asher (25 March 2015). "Houthi Who?". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  2. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/08/10/Popular-resistance-continues-making-gains-in-southern-Yemen.html
  3. "Saudi Arabia Begins Air Assault in Yemen". The New York Times. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  4. Felicia Schwartz, Hakim Almasmari and Asa Fitch (26 March 2015). "Saudi Arabia Launches Military Operations in Yemen". WSJ.
  5. "Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Pakistan ready for ground offensive in Yemen: report". the globe and mail. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  6. "Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes in Yemen". CNN. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  7. "Fighting in Abyan governorate continues as anti-Houthi forces advance". Yemen Times. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2018-05-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/yemen-situation-report/2015-yemen-crisis-situation-report-april-1
  10. 63 killed, dozens wounded in fighting, airstrikes in southern Yemen
  11. https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/08/11/South-Yemen-clashes-wound-senior-officials.html
  12. "Yemen's loyalist forces push Houthi rebels from Abyan". Archived from the original on 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2015-08-14.
  13. "South Yemen clashes wound senior officials". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  14. Browning, Noah (27 March 2015). "Yemen Houthi forces gain first foothold on Arabian Sea - residents". Reuters. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  15. "Diplomats and U.N. staff flee Yemen as Houthis target Aden". Reuters. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  16. "Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 30, 2015 - Critical Threats". Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  17. "Diplomats and U.N. staff flee Yemen as Houthis target Aden". Reuters UK. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  18. "U.S. expedites arms shipments to coalition bombing Yemen". Reuters UK. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  19. "Yemen clashes kill more than 140 as aid delayed - News". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  20. "Yemen pro-govt forces launch offensive". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  21. "Yemeni Popular Resistance forces tighten grip on south". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
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