South Arabia
Al-Khalaquy to BBC: Unprecedent Troops Near Al-Hodeida are not for Picnic… This is the Battel of Determination to Liberate it from Al-Houthis
[su_label type=”info”]SMA News – BBC – Follow-ups [/su_label][su_spacer size=”10″] On Tuesday June 12th, 2018, at 6:30 PM, BBC Arabic held an interview with Dr. Ali Al-Khalaquy, an academic and political analyst, to talk about recent events in Al-Hodeida. SMA News is publishing BBC questions and Dr. Al-Khalaquy’s responses.
Q: This quick advance in the west coast towards Al-Hodeida, why didn’t it happen a year ago?
Dr. Al-Khalaquy: I Think that things are going according a firm well-prepared plan as before heading to Al-Hodeida, vast areas on the road from Adan to Al-Hodeida were liberated including Zu Bab, Al-Makha, Al-Khoukha and then Al-Durihamy, a few kilometers from Al-Hodeida. I also think that specific conditions were very suitable in this specific timing. We all know that during the past period, troops were not ready for this advance and all battalions that are marching towards these areas, including southern giants’ brigades, Tehama resistance and national resistance, were prepared one after another and joined together into the joint troops that fight this battel fiercely. They are now well-prepared for the battel of determination to liberate Al-Hodeida.
Q: There are several mediations to avoid fighting inside the city that may lead to severe human loses. Do you expect that UN mediation may convince Al-Houthis to withdraw and abandon the city to avoid a military clash or not?
Dr. Al-Khalaquy: In my opinion, this is up to Al-Houthis and I think they will not risk the remains of their exhausted troops. We saw the same thing when they were forced to leave Adan. They announced it as a tactical withdrawal. Therefore, I can expect to hear their leaders this night or tomorrow announcing that they will withdraw tactically for the safety of civilians but they will come back to liberate it later.
Q: But, for Al-Houthis, Al-Hodeida is not Adan. It is their life support pipeline that provides them with aids and may be other things. Could Abd Al-Malek Al-Houthi withdraw from the city as if he is announcing a death sentence and creates a suffocating siege over himself?
Dr. Al-Khalaquy: He would remain in Adan if he could. Also, he would remain in Al-Hodeida if he could. But facts on the ground and this unprecedent advance of troops in the west coast is not for picnic. The decision is made and this is the battel of determination. All defeats of Al-Houthis and their killings falling everywhere in the west coast represent a major lesson that will force them to withdraw and admit their defeat just to save the rest of their troops. Troops didn’t march to Al-Hodeida in a picnic and then to leave Al-Houthi to continue using Al-Hodeida seaport to smuggle military weapons and economic resources for his own military efforts, and not for citizens of the areas under his control.
Q: This quick advance in the west coast towards Al-Hodeida, why didn’t it happen a year ago?
Dr. Al-Khalaquy: I Think that things are going according a firm well-prepared plan as before heading to Al-Hodeida, vast areas on the road from Adan to Al-Hodeida were liberated including Zu Bab, Al-Makha, Al-Khoukha and then Al-Durihamy, a few kilometers from Al-Hodeida. I also think that specific conditions were very suitable in this specific timing. We all know that during the past period, troops were not ready for this advance and all battalions that are marching towards these areas, including southern giants’ brigades, Tehama resistance and national resistance, were prepared one after another and joined together into the joint troops that fight this battel fiercely. They are now well-prepared for the battel of determination to liberate Al-Hodeida.
Q: There are several mediations to avoid fighting inside the city that may lead to severe human loses. Do you expect that UN mediation may convince Al-Houthis to withdraw and abandon the city to avoid a military clash or not?
Dr. Al-Khalaquy: In my opinion, this is up to Al-Houthis and I think they will not risk the remains of their exhausted troops. We saw the same thing when they were forced to leave Adan. They announced it as a tactical withdrawal. Therefore, I can expect to hear their leaders this night or tomorrow announcing that they will withdraw tactically for the safety of civilians but they will come back to liberate it later.
Q: But, for Al-Houthis, Al-Hodeida is not Adan. It is their life support pipeline that provides them with aids and may be other things. Could Abd Al-Malek Al-Houthi withdraw from the city as if he is announcing a death sentence and creates a suffocating siege over himself?
Dr. Al-Khalaquy: He would remain in Adan if he could. Also, he would remain in Al-Hodeida if he could. But facts on the ground and this unprecedent advance of troops in the west coast is not for picnic. The decision is made and this is the battel of determination. All defeats of Al-Houthis and their killings falling everywhere in the west coast represent a major lesson that will force them to withdraw and admit their defeat just to save the rest of their troops. Troops didn’t march to Al-Hodeida in a picnic and then to leave Al-Houthi to continue using Al-Hodeida seaport to smuggle military weapons and economic resources for his own military efforts, and not for citizens of the areas under his control.
