Despite this, the key downtown district of Marib remains under the control of the Saudi-backed government.
“Most of Marib is now in the hands of the [Houthis], there are 14 districts that make up Marib, only two are controlled by the [internationally recognized government] including the city center, two others are battlefields and the rest of the districts are under Houthi control, ”Al-Ezzi said.
The battle for Marib, the last major stronghold of the internationally recognized northern government, is crucial for the warring sides of the Yemeni conflict.
A key strategic location, home to one of Yemen’s largest oil infrastructures, Marib has seen intensified fighting and a renewed military offensive earlier this year.
Saudi-led coalition airstrikes have continued to bomb Houthi positions, according to Houthi media, pushing backed forces into Iran; however, the Houthis said they are moving towards control of all the surrounding districts in the city.
“Despite repeated calls from the international community for the Houthis to stop their attacks on Marib, the Houthis continued to increase; this week alone, militias fired more than 15 ballistic missiles into the city of Marib,” the government said. international Minister Ahmed Bin Mubarak told CNN.
Aid groups and diplomats have issued strong warnings about a humanitarian crisis if battles continue.
“The Ma’rib government is already hosting one million internally displaced people – the largest IDP population in Yemen according to local authorities – and some live in approximately 125 internally displaced places,” the International Organization for Migration said. IOM) of the United Nations. last week.