Battle of Dhale

Battle of Dhale
Part of the Yemeni civil war (2015–present)
Date24 March – 26 May 2015 (2 months and 2 days)
LocationDhale, Yemen
Result Pro-Hadi victory
Belligerents

Yemen Houthi government[1]

Yemen Hadi government

Commanders and leaders
Abdullah Dabaan[6]
(33rd Armoured Brigade commander)		 Unknown
Casualties and losses
186+ killed[7] 62+ killed[8]
46 civilians killed[9][10]

The Battle of Dhale was a key fight for control of Dhale, 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.

The battle

On 24 March, Houthi forces seized administrative buildings in Dhale and were advancing in the city during heavy fighting. A battle for the camp of the 33rd Armoured Brigade ended in the afternoon with 10 anti-Hadi fighters dead.[11] Later, pro-Hadi fighters counter-attacked in the town and beat back the Houthis.[12]

On 30 March, the Houthis entered the city after nearly a week of fighting.[13] The town was reportedly split in half between the two opposing side,[14] while a sheikh in the city stated the Houthis were in control of Dhale, but with sporadic fighting continuing and both sides suffering “a large number of casualties”.[15] At this time, a Yemen Red Crescent Society ambulance driver was killed when his vehicle was hit by gunfire.[16]

On 31 March, secessionist fighters allied to Hadi traded artillery fire with the Houthis and army units loyal to Saleh. In addition, repeated air strikes hit Houthi and allied positions, including an ammunition store at a military base. Around 30 Houthi and allied fighters, along with nine southern fighters, were killed during the day.[17]

On 1 April, a pro-Houthi army brigade was said to have "disintegrated" after being pummeled by coalition warplanes. The commander of the 33rd Brigade reportedly fled and groups of pro-Houthi troops withdrew to the north.[6] 10 Hadi militiamen were also killed in street battles.[18] The next day, the town was reported to be under pro-Hadi control, but with Houthi sniper fire continuing.[19]

On 4 April, the Houthis captured the town's central prison and freed 300 inmates who they gave a choice between joining their ranks or remaining incarcerated.[20]

On 5 April, coalition air-strikes targeting Houthi positions in the city hit a residential area and killed five civilians.[21] The next evening, 19 Houthi and 15 pro-Hadi fighters were killed in heavy fighting.[22]

On 8 April, more air-strikes hit Houthi positions in Dhale.[23]

A local official claimed 40 Houthi and three pro-Hadi fighters had been killed in fighting between 12 and 13 April.[24] Three children were also killed when a shell hit their house.[10] On 19 April, more fighting and air-strikes killed 31 Houthi and 17 pro-Hadi fighters.[25]

In fighting between 22 and 25 April, at least 43 pro-Houthi and eight tribal fighters were killed, according to pro-Hadi sources.[26][27][28] Between 27 and 28 April, more than 50 fighters on both sides were killed.[29]

Ambushes on 3 and 24 May, left 13 Houthi fighters dead.[30][31]

On 26 May, pro-government fighters captured Dhale, as well as the command center of the 33rd Armoured Brigade.[32]

On 9 August, Pro-Hadi forces captured the rest of Dhale Governorate after heavy fighting for more than two months.[33]

References

  1. ↑ Orkaby, Asher (25 March 2015). "Houthi Who?". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Saudi Arabia Begins Air Assault in Yemen". The New York Times. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Felicia Schwartz, Hakim Almasmari and Asa Fitch (26 March 2015). "Saudi Arabia Launches Military Operations in Yemen". WSJ.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Pakistan ready for ground offensive in Yemen: report". the globe and mail. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes in Yemen". CNN. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Pro-Houthi brigade disintegrates in Yemen's Ad Dali". World Bulletin. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  7. ↑ 10 killed (24 March), 30 killed (31 March), 19 killed (6 April), 40 killed (12–13 April), 31 killed (19 April), 8 killed (22 April), 23 killed (24 April), 12 killed (25 April), 5 killed (3 May), 8 killed (24 May), 163 reported killed
  8. ↑ 9 killed (31 March), 10 killed (1 April), 15 killed (6 April), 3 killed (12–13 April), 17 killed (19 April), 12 killed (25 April), 62 reported killed
  9. ↑ Yemen: Escalating Conflict Flash Update 6
  10. 1 2 "UN Security council to vote on Yemen Huthi resolution". Mail Online. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Les forces hostiles au président resserrent l'étau sur Aden" (in French). Romandie. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Hadi forces check Houthi push towards Yemen's Aden". Reuters. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 30, 2015 - Critical Threats". Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  14. ↑ ABC News. "Saudi-Led Forces Strike Yemen Rebels, Blockade Ports". ABC News. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Fighting spreads into five southern governorates". Yemen Times. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Jordan News Agency (Petra) -WHO deplores deaths of health care workers in Yemen". Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Heavy clashes on Saudi-Yemeni border; Hadi government pleads for troops". Reuters. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "Yemen Houthi fighters backed by tanks reach central Aden". Reuters. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "Yemen's Houthis seize central Aden district, presidential site". Reuters UK. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Shiites free hundreds of prisoners in Yemen, officials say". thestar.com. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  21. ↑ Senior Yemeni Sunni leaders abducted by Shiite rebels
  22. ↑ "Yemen clashes kill more than 140 as aid delayed". Mail Online. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Yemen's Houthis battle in central Aden, first medical aid arrives". Reuters. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "Gulf Daily News » World News » Yemen unrest driven by Iran's hunger for power". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Yemen rebel leader vows resistance against Saudi-led air war". Mail Online. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "Saudi-led coalition launches air strikes throughout Yemen: residents". Reuters. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  27. ↑ "Air raids kill 23 rebels in Yemen south: Govt official". Zee News. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  28. ↑ "63 killed, dozens wounded in fighting, airstrikes in southern Yemen - Shanghai Daily". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "Dozens of fighters killed in continued violence - Yemen Post English Newspaper Online". Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  30. ↑ yemeni media center. "- Houthis shell residential areas in Dhale". Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "Heavy exchange of fire destroys Saudi-Yemen border crossing". Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  32. ↑ In blow to Yemen's Shiite rebels, pro-government forces retake city that's gateway to Aden
  33. ↑ "Yemen fighters 'liberate' southern province". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
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