An attempted Houthi offensive on Jabal Debbas near Hays in Yemen's Hodeidah province has resulted in significant casualties for the rebel group, underscoring the strategic importance of the area and its continued role as a point of attrition for the Houthis. The operation, aimed at altering the balance of power on the western coast, instead proved to be one of the most costly assaults for the militia in recent times.
The battle for Jabal Debbas saw intense fighting after the Houthis launched a broad attack on positions held by the Zaranik forces, affiliated with the National Resistance. Their objective was to advance and establish fire control over the Hays district. However, defending forces contained the assault, forcing the attackers to retreat after sustaining over 50 killed and dozens wounded, who were subsequently transported to hospitals in Al-Jarrahi and Zubaid.
The National Resistance has emphasized that the western coast front remains a primary target for Houthi attacks. It highlighted that the repeated assaults on Tihama Zaranik positions are not random actions but reflect the militia's understanding of the military significance of these sites. These locations serve as the first line of defense, preventing any advance towards the Hays district and the Red Sea coast.
Jabal Debbas is considered a critical military location in southern Hodeidah, overlooking both Hays and Al-Jarrahi districts. Control of the mountain provides the ability to monitor routes connecting Hodeidah and Taiz, and also offers a vantage point over large parts of the Khokha coast and the Red Sea. This strategic importance explains the Houthis' persistent efforts to capture it.
The Hays district itself holds exceptional significance as a nexus connecting the provinces of Hodeidah, Taiz, and Ibb, in addition to its proximity to the western coast, lying approximately 28 kilometers from the Red Sea. The area has historically been a vital station for trade caravans. Since its liberation in February 2018 by joint forces, the Houthi militia has continuously attempted to recapture the city, previously leveraging their positions on the overlooking highlands to impose a siege and target residential areas and military positions.
Analysts observe that the events at Jabal Debbas echo previous confrontations on fronts east of Hodeidah city, where the militia deployed thousands of fighters in repeated attempts to achieve breakthroughs, only to incur substantial human losses without realizing their objectives. The current Houthi offensive, which occurred roughly a month after the assassination of Brigadier General Yahya Waheesh, a commander in the National Resistance, was seen by some as an attempt to boost morale and prepare for a larger assault on the Hays front. However, field developments have demonstrated the failure of these calculations, with the attacking forces facing fierce resistance and being forced to withdraw, leaving behind numerous dead and wounded.
In conclusion, observers suggest that the battle for Jabal Debbas carries messages extending beyond its geographical borders. It has reaffirmed that the western coast front retains a significant capacity to deplete Houthi resources and thwart their plans. The control of Hays is likely to remain an elusive objective given the cohesion of the National Resistance's defenses, which have transformed strategic highlands into an advanced defensive line, preventing any alteration of the control map in southern Hodeidah province.
