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Battle of Port Midi

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Battle of Port Midi
Part of Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) and
the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
DateMain Battle: 19 December 2015 – 23 January 2016[1]
Insurgency: Late January 2016 - present (Only some attacks, Midi still under loyalist occupation, conflict spreads in the rest of Hajjah region)
Location
Midi District, Hajjah Governorate, Yemen
Result

Cabinet of Yemen government/Coalition victory

  • Port of Midi captured by Hadi loyalists
  • Continued insurgency
  • Conflict spreads in the rest of Hajjah region
Belligerents

Yemen Supreme Revolutionary Committee

Yemen Cabinet of Yemen

 Saudi Arabia

Commanders and leaders
Unknown Unknown pro-Hadi commander †[2]
General Yehia al-Khayati (DOW)[3]
Suleiman Mukhit †
Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar
Casualties and losses
Unknown 20+
78-129 civilians killed, and 100+ injured all around the Hajjah governorate

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 the port has been seized by the Hadi loyalists, the Houthi fighters along with the popular committees have managed to conduct some attacks in the Midi area. The conflict also spillovers in the rest of the Hajjah region. By 26 January 2017, Hadi loyalists had extended their control to Harad District in Hajjah Region.

The main battle

The battle began on 19 December 2015, when the loyalists captured the city of Haradh after fierce fighting left dozens dead on both sides. The port was a very strategic location for the Houthis because Port Midi has been used to supply weapons for the capital, Sana'a, and for using the surrounding area to launch missiles against Saudi Arabian villages. At the end of December, the loyalists advanced very quickly as they managed to capture the surrounding area, pushing the Houthis back. The Houthi fighters suffered airstrikes from the Saudi Arabian coalition.[4]

On 7 January 2016, the loyalists captured Port Midi after reported heavy fighting, but despite losing Port Midi, the Houthis, along with a battalion of troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, still maintain control over a long stretch of the coastline.[5][6]

Insurgency

Situation in Hajjah governorate as of February 9, 2019

After the recapturing of Midi by the Hadi loyalists, the Saudi Arabia soldiers constructed a base of operations, but an attack conducted by popular committees and Houthi fighters in January 27, 2016 left at least 3 Saudi fighters dead.[7]

A week later in 5 of February 2016, Houthi snipers ambushed Saudi troops killing 9 of them. The attackers escaped the area without being apprehended.[8] In 8 of February, popular committees aligned with the Houthi Government attacked Saudi soldiers moving to reinforce the Midi area, destroying at least 2 armored vehicles before escaping.[9]

Four days later, on 12 of February, fighters of popular committees backed by the Houthi government shot down a Saudi surveillance plane flying in Midi district, with no reported casualties.[10] On 6 March, Saudi jets launched 11 raids on Midi district targeting alleged pro Houthi targets.[11]

In late March, a Saudi airstrike killed more than 78 civilians, including 22 children. The death toll later rose to 107, with some Humanitarian organisations claiming that 129 civilians were killed in the airstrikes and more than 100 wounded.[12][13]

On 10 July, a local pro-Hadi commander was killed by a missile strike launched by pro-Houthi army forces.[2]

On 3 September, Houthi forces launched an offensive in the region, killing at least 11 soldiers and wounding another 28, according to pro-Hadi forces. Saudi warplanes also launched at least 15 airstrikes against the advancing Houthi forces. Reports also emerged that Houthi fighters captured the port from Hadi loyalists.[14]

On 21 September, at least 26 civilians were killed and 60 wounded when missiles from an Arab coalition air strike hit a residential area where rebel leaders were staying in Hodeidah, according to medics and residents.[15]

In mid-November, fifteen loyalists and 23 fighters were killed in the clashes as loyalists launched an attack on three fronts to recapture the town of Midi and nearby Haradh.[16]

On the night of 22 November, three soldiers were killed and four wounded by Houthi sniper fire near Midi.[17] On the other day, fighting around the town of Midi killed 18 Houthis and four government soldiers, according to a loyalist commander on the ground.[18]

On 26 November, pro-Hadi forces announced 22 Houthis were killed in artillery shelling and clashes with government forces in Midi district.[19]

Houthi forces retreated from the contested town of Midi, following clashes on December 5, according to pro-Hadi government sources.[20]

In January 2017, pro-Hadi loyalists pushed back the Houthis and Saleh troops more than 40 km and secured the Midi and Harad fronts. Air and artillery strikes from Saudi and Arab coalition forced the Houthis to retreat. It allowed Pro-Hadi forces to clear a wide area around port of Midi and extend their control up to the interior of Harad district in Hajjah Governorate.[21]

On 30 January 2017, at least 37 Houthis and allied fighters were killed or injured, according to a statement issued by the Yemeni army’s Fifth Brigade. Six army personnel had also been killed during fighting in Harad and Midi areas.[22]

On 13 February 2017, at least 8 people from both sides were killed during clashes in Hodeida, a hospital source confirmed.[23]

On 6 March 2017, a Saudi coalition airstrike on a military base in Bajil killed 16 Houthis and wounding 23, said a medical official and a military source.[24]

On 7 March 2017, Houthis attacked Hadi loyalists, killing 6, including a pro-Hadi government officer, Suleiman Mukhit.[25]

On 10 March 2017, an airstrike by Saudi-led coalition on a market in the Red Sea port of Khokha killed 20 civilians and six Houthi fighters.[26]

On 14 March 2017, the pro-government Yemeni Ministry of Defence said on its official news site, that as many as 28 Houthi fighters were killed in Midi District.[27]

On 3 April 2017, pro-government forces say that they have stormed some neighborhoods in Midi town and captured a major road that connects the town with Haradh.[28]

On 1 July 2017, at least 14 Houthi fighters, including a spokesman were killed after pro-government forces repelled their attack in Midi, according to the Yemeni army.[29]

References

  1. ^ Jigmey Bhutia. "Yemen: Scores of Houthi rebels and government troops killed in fresh fighting near Saudi border". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Yemen: Pro-Hadi Commander, 25 Others Killed in Yemeni Ballistic Missile Strike in Ma'rib". Farsnews. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Fresh clashes in Yemen kill 20, say military officials – American held in Yemen freed, evacuated to Oman".
  4. ^ "Pro-government troops in Yemen recapture strategic port town". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Houthi-held port of Midi seized by Yemen troops after fierce fighting". The Japan Times. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Yemen troops seize Midi port from Houthis". Emirates 24-7. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  7. ^ "PressTV". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  8. ^ "PressTV". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Saba Net - Yemen news agency". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Saba Net - Yemen news agency". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Saba Net - Yemen news agency".
  12. ^ "Saudi Arabia to scale back Yemen attacks as airstrike death toll rises". the Guardian.
  13. ^ Hakim Almasmari and Hamdi Alkhshali, CNN (16 March 2016). "Airstrike in northern Yemen kills dozens". CNN. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ "11 Troops Killed in Houthi Offensive Against North Yemen Port". 4 September 2016.
  15. ^ "Yemen: 26 killed by coalition air strike in Hodeidah". Al Jazeera. 23 September 2016.
  16. ^ "Scores reported dead in heavy fighting in Yemen".
  17. ^ "Renewed clashes kill at least 19 in Yemen".
  18. ^ "Renewed clashes in Yemen kill more than 40".
  19. ^ "Scores of Houthi rebels killed in Yemen fighting".
  20. ^ "Gulf of Aden Security Review - December 5, 2016".
  21. ^ "Yemeni army gains control of key Harad and Midi fronts - January 22, 2017".
  22. ^ "Yemen clashes near Saudi border enter third day". Anadolu Agency.
  23. ^ "20 killed as clashes erupt on Yemen's coast". Middle East Eye.
  24. ^ "23 Yemeni rebels killed in strikes, clashes". Middle East Online. 6 March 2017.
  25. ^ Tony Toh [@tonytohcy] (7 March 2017). "SPC/Houthis carry out new attack on Hadi forces at Midi coast (NW #Hajjah), killing six enemy combatants including officer Suleiman Mukhit" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "Air strike kills 26 in Yemen: medics, military sources". 11 March 2017.
  27. ^ "Heavy fighting as troops close in on Arhab". Gulf News. 14 March 2017.
  28. ^ "Government forces make gains in Yemen's north". Gulf News. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  29. ^ "14 Houthi rebels killed in W. Yemen clashes: Army". Anadolu Agency. 1 July 2017.
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