Rival Factions in Yemen Struggle for Unity Against Houthi Advance

Yemeni factions opposing the Iran-backed Houthis are primarily united by their shared enemy but lack common goals, leading to divisions that hinder their ability to counter the rebels' recent territorial gains.

In the past month, Houthi forces have seized territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the strategic city of Mokha and islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This advance ended a 2022 truce and signaled a significant escalation in the conflict. The Houthis now control parts of Yemen's north and have expanded their reach along the crucial Red Sea coastline.

Saudi Arabia, a key player in the coalition against the Houthis since 2015, is attempting to consolidate thousands of fighters into a more unified force. However, deep-seated divisions among these factions, stemming from differing geographic bases, foreign allegiances, and competing political visions, have raised concerns about their capacity to repel the Houthi offensive.

According to Adam Baron, a fellow at the think tank New America, the Houthis' unified command structure has facilitated their rapid expansion. He noted that "For the Houthis, that makes it so much easier to fight this battle: one coherent movement on one side, and a loosely linked umbrella group on the other."

Internal Divisions and Competing Patrons

Following the Houthi takeover of the capital, Sanaa, in 2015, various militias and armed groups emerged in southern Yemen to support the internationally recognized government. Over time, rivalries intensified between factions supported by Saudi Arabia and those backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the two regional powers vied for influence and control over strategic coastal areas.

These rivalries sometimes led to direct clashes. After Emirati-backed southern separatist factions engaged in heightened conflict last year, Saudi Arabia reportedly conducted airstrikes against what it believed was an Emirati weapons shipment destined for southern Yemen. In January, the UAE announced its withdrawal from the conflict, ending its direct support for ground factions.

Now, Saudi Arabia is working to integrate these disparate factions under its command and funding structure. However, some commanders have been reluctant to relinquish their autonomy and revenue streams.

Key Factions and Their Alignments

Among the prominent anti-Houthi groups is the National Resistance Forces, established in 2017 and historically supported by the UAE. With an estimated 30,000 fighters, it has been considered one of the most well-armed factions. This group was a primary force defending Yemen's Red Sea coast.

Another significant group is the Giants Brigades, which also previously received UAE funding. This faction broke with other Emirati allies last year and is now backed by Saudi Arabia. Deep mistrust reportedly exists between the National Resistance Forces and the Giants Brigades. The former is largely composed of Yemenis from the north, led by a commander with ties to former Yemeni autocrat Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was killed by the Houthis in 2017. The Giants Brigades, conversely, is dominated by southern tribesmen, many of whom are Salafists and harbor animosity towards Saleh's past rule.

Officials attribute the factions' recent defeats by the Houthis along the coast, in part, to leadership disputes and a lack of coordination.

Saudi Arabia has also been working to establish an umbrella organization known as the National Shield. Created in January 2023, it reports to Rashad al-Alimi, the Saudi-based chairman of the Presidential Council, the leadership body of Yemen's internationally recognized government. The National Shield comprises predominantly Salafist fighters with close ties to Saudi Arabia, as well as tribal fighters, some of whom were formerly aligned with the UAE-backed separatists. This group operates in the Hadramawt province and southern and eastern Yemen, controlling key land borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Remaining Divisions

The National Shield has not yet integrated the National Resistance Forces and Giants Brigades into its structure. The official Yemeni government military has also been weakened over years of conflict, partly due to past UAE efforts to sideline it in favor of proxy groups, as the UAE viewed it as too closely aligned with Yemen's branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islah party.

Forces from the official army and Islah-connected groups are currently stationed in the Marib region, a key front line against the Houthis.

For years, the Southern Transitional Council, an umbrella group advocating for the restoration of southern Yemen's independence, was a formidable force against the Houthis. The UAE provided funding and arms to this council, which, while fighting the rebels, also frequently clashed with the government based in Aden.

Although the UAE's withdrawal in January led to the dismantling of the council's leadership, its cause retains supporters. Earlier this month, a group identifying with the council's objectives attacked a convoy carrying the Yemeni defense minister in the Dhale province, though the minister was unharmed.

The renewed fighting raises concerns about a potential full-scale return to the civil war that has previously resulted in over 150,000 deaths and displaced millions. The current escalation has already led to the displacement of nearly 130,000 people and hundreds of casualties.