Battle of Port Midi

Battle of Port Midi Part of Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) and the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Date Main Battle: 19 December 2015 – 6 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 Hadi/Coalition victory Port of Midi captured by Hadi loyalists Continued insurgency Conflict spreads in the rest of Hajjah region Belligerents  Yemen (Houthi government) Houthi fighters Security Forces (pro-Saleh) Popular Committees (pro-Houthis) Republican Guard  Iran Quds Force (alleged)  Yemen (Hadi government) Security Forces (pro-Hadi) Popular Committees (pro-Hadi) Popular Resistance Southern Movement  Saudi Arabia Special Forces Commanders and leaders Unknown Unknown pro-Hadi commander †[2] General Yehia al-Khayati (DOW)[3] Casualties and losses Unknown 20+ 78-129 civilians killed, and 100+ injured all around the Hajjah governorate

Yemeni Crisis Revolution (2011–12) Sa'dah 1st Sana'a Zinjibar Ta'izz Dammaj Transition and AQAP campaign (2012–13) Dofas Abyan (2012) Sana'a Radda (2013) Sana'a (2013) Houthi rebellion (2014–15) Dammaj Amran 2nd Sanaa Houthi takeover Rescue operations Rada' Ibb Sana'a Police Academy Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Aden Airport Sana'a mosques Ad Dali' Saudi-led intervention Aden 1st Abyan Lahij Najran Shabwah 1st Al Mukalla Ta'izz Ma'rib missile strike Sana'a mosque (2nd) Aden unrest (October 2015 - ) Aden hotel attack 1st Aden Aden Christian attack 2nd Aden 3rd Aden 4th Aden Zinjibar and Jaar Taiz missile strike Port Midi 2nd Abyan 2nd Al Mukalla 3rd Al Mukalla 4th Al Mukalla Sana'a funeral airstrike

The battle of Port Midi refers to a battle between the Saudi coalition backed Hadi loyalists, and the Houthi government. Throughout the port is seized by the Hadi loyalists, the Houthi fighters along with the popular committed have managed to conduct some attacks in Midi area. The conflict also spillovers in the rest of the Hajjah region.

The main battle

The battle begin in 19 December 2015, when the loyalists captured the city of Haradh after fierce fighting left some dozens dead in both side. The port was a place of very strategic meaning for the Houthis because they have used the Midi to bring weapons in their capital, Sana'a, and for using the surrounding border to launch missile rocked against Saudi Arabian villages. At the end of December, the loyalists have advanced the port very quickly as the managed to capture the surrounding area pushing the Houthis back. The Houthi fighters during the battle, have suffered airstrikes from the Saudi Arabia and their coalition.^[4] In 7 January 2016, the loyalists captured the Midi after reported heavily fighting, but despite losing 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

After the recapturing of Midi by the Hadi loyalists, the Saudi Arabia soldiers set a base for their 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 like the previous time.^[8] In 8 of February, popular committees aligned with the Houthi Government, attacked Saudi soldiers reaching 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 Houthi government, shot down an Saudi hostile surveillance plane, flying in Midi district. No casualties reported.^[10] In 6 March, Saudi jets launch 11 raids on Midi district targeting alleged pro Houthi targets. No casualties reported.^[11] On late March, a Saudi airstrike killed more than 78 civilians, including 22 children. The death toll later arises to 107, with some Humanitarian organizations to claims that 129 killed in the airstrikes, and more than 100 wounded. up to 129 civilians killed.^[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 along 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 fighter have captured the port from loyalist.^[14]

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.^[15]

On the night of 22 November, three soldiers were killed and four wounded by Houthi sniper fire near Midi town.^[16] On the other day, fighting around the town of Midi cost the lives of 18 Houthis and four government soldiers, according to a loyalist commander on the ground.^[17]

On 26 November, pro-Hadi forces said 22 Houthis were killed in artillery shelling and clashes with government forces in Midi district.^[18]

References

Yemeni Civil War
Part of Aftermath of the 2014–15 Yemeni coup d'état
Past events	Battle of Amran Battle of Sana'a Battle of Radaa 2014–15 Yemeni coup d'état Abduction of Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak Battle of Sanaa Constitutional declaration for the Houthis Agreements Peace and national partnership agreement Agreement January 21, 2015
Battles	Battle of Aden Airport Battle of Aden Battle of Ad Dali' Lahij insurgency Battle of Marib (2015) Battle of Taiz Shabwah campaign Abyan campaign Other 2015 Sana'a mosque bombings Hota Massacre Battle of Al Mukalla (2015) Bombing Marzaq camp Bombing Dahra Battle of Al Mukalla (2016)
Parties and powers	Mansur Hadi Government Military of Yemen South resistance People's Committees in Yemen Southern Movement Yemen's tribes Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance Forces Fourth Military Region Armored brigade 35 111 Infantry Brigade Third Military Region 112 Infantry Brigade Houthis Government Revolutionary Committee Houthis Army Pro-Ali Abdullah Saleh Republican Guard Forces Republican Guard Special Operations Forces Special Security Forces Yemeni Air Force
People	Mansur Hadi Government Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi Khaled Bahah Mahmoud al-Subaihi Thabit Jawas Houthis Government and their allies Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi Abu Ali Al Hakim Mohammed Ali al-Houthi Saleh Al Samad Abdul-Khaliq al-Huthi army Pro-Ali Abdullah Saleh Ali Abdullah Saleh Ahmed Saleh Abdullah Dabaan Abdul-Hafiz al-Saqqaf Abdul Razzaq Almrona Abdullah Khairan Zakaria Yahya al-Shami Hussein Khairan
Places	Sana'a Taiz Governorate Taiz Mocha, Yemen Lahij Governorate Lahij Aden Ad Dali' Governorate
Reactions external	Military 2015 military intervention in Yemen Timeline of Operation Restoring Hope