2022 Southern Yemen offensive

2022 Southern Yemen offensive
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)

Southern forces in Abyan province on a Nimr mobility vehicle, 24 August 2022
Date7 August – 19 November 2022
Location
Abyan and Shabwah provinces, Yemen
Result Southern Movement victory
Territorial
changes
Southern forces capture most districts of Abyan and Shabwah provinces
Belligerents

Presidential Leadership Council

Supported by:
 Saudi Arabia


al-Qaeda


Supreme Political Council

Southern Movement

 United Arab Emirates (alleged)
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Yasser Nasser Shaye [4]
Units involved

Yemen Army[5]
Special Security Forces[1]

  • Islah party militias[1]

Houthi loyalists in Shabwah[2]

Pro-Southern Movement forces

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces (alleged)[5]
Casualties and losses
Unknown 46 killed, 136 wounded (September–November)[6]
80+ killed, 68+ wounded overall (August)[7]

In August 2022, forces of Yemen's Emirati-backed separatist Southern Movement, mainly represented by the Southern Transitional Council, launched an offensive in the Abyan and Shabwah provinces.[3] Initially, the Southern forces mostly fought against Saudi-backed government forces, most of which belonged to the armed wing of the Islah party.[1] Since early September 2022, however, the Southern Movement's offensive has become more focused on battling local al-Qaeda strongholds.

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ahmad Mostafa (31 August 2022). "Is South Yemen on way to autonomy?". Ahram Online. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Yemen security forces bust Houthi cell in Shabwa". Arab News. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Knights, Michael; al-Gabarni, Adnan; Coombs, Casey (21 October 2022). Cruickshank, Paul; Hummel, Kristina (eds.). "The Houthi Jihad Council: Command and Control in 'the Other Hezbollah'" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. 15 (10). West Point, New York: Combating Terrorism Center: 1–23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Deadly al-Qaeda attack targets Yemen's southern separatists". al-Jazeera. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Eleonora Ardemagni (30 August 2022). "Emirati-backed forces eye Yemen's energy heartland". MEI. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Yemeni push forces Al-Qaeda out of Abyan valley hideout". Arab News. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  7. ^ New clashes in Yemen complicate hopes for peace, 12 August 2022