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MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA, Bahrain

Date Posted: 03-Sep-2015

Jane's Defence Weekly

Analysis: Saudi-led coalition opens new

front in Yemen
Jeremy Binnie
London

Emirati Leclerc tanks advance out of Aden on 3 August. It now appears that the UAE has deployed
another armoured formation to Marib province. (PA Photos)
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ANALYSIS
The Saudi-led coalition trying to restore Yemen's internationally recognised government appears
to have opened a third front by deploying a substantial force to Marib province.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has already deployed ground forces and Apache attack
helicopters to southern Yemen via the port of Aden, while Saudi forces are trying to contain cross-
border attacks launched by the Ansar Allah group from northern Yemen.
The new front has become apparent since 21 August, when videos began to appear on social
media showing military convoys in Marib province to the east of the capital Sanaa. These are
presumed to have been on the road that runs across the desert from the Saudi border town of Al-
Sharawrah to Marib city.
The convoys included numerous M-ATV armoured vehicles, Tatra logistics trucks and pickups, as
well as transporters carrying tracked armoured vehicles, at least some of which appeared to be
Leclerc tanks. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the only member of the coalition that uses the
Leclerc.
A photograph of an Emirati Pantsyr-S1 short-range air-defence system purportedly deployed to
Marib has also emerged on social media and an Oshkosh FMTV truck has been spotted, prompting
speculation that the UAE has deployed at least one of its High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems
(HIMARS).

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Another video has shown Otokar Arma 6x6 armoured vehicles purportedly in Marib. Bahrain is the
only member of the coalition known to use this Turkish-made vehicle, but was not previously
known to have contributed ground forces.
Eight Apache attack helicopters have also reportedly been deployed to the airstrip at the Safir oil
refinery 50 km east of Marib city.
Pro-Ansar Allah media sources have reported that the Saudi-led coalition intensified its airstrikes in
Marib province towards the end of August, in the process damaging the Marib Dam and killing
allied Yemeni fighters. They have also reported that Ansar Allah and allied local tribesman are
preparing to defend against the offensive the coalition and its Yemeni allies are expected to
launch towards Sanaa.
The capital is 120 km to the west of Marib and two roads connect the two cities. In contrast to the
flat desert between Marib and the Saudi border, both roads run through mountainous territory
where guerrilla attacks could significantly disrupt advancing columns.

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