Marib is on hotplate: Is Saudi Arabia engineering end of Islah Party’s influence?

MARIB, Jan. 12 (YPA) – Amid rapid shifts in Saudi policy aimed at redrawing the map of influence in eastern and southern Yemen, the Islah Party (the Yemen branch of the Muslim Brotherhood) faces an unprecedented existential crisis.

Growing indicators suggest a regional trend to marginalize traditional factions and impose a new political and military reality in Marib and Taiz provinces, mirroring scenarios previously faced by other political actors.

Military Escalation and High Alert

Media outlets affiliated with Islah party reported an emergency military meeting where the party declared a state of maximum combat readiness.

This mobilization comes in response to the movements of the “Emergency Forces”—a unit of the Saudi-backed Salafist “Dera Al-Watan” forces. Both sides have reportedly deployed significant reinforcements along the strategic highway connecting the Al-Abr region to Marib city.

Field Tensions and Imminent Confrontation

The border areas between Marib and Hadramout have witnessed a sharp spike in tensions. Pro-Riyadh factions have accused Islah elements of attacking the “Al-Thaniyah” camp and targeting a military vehicle in the “Bin Ma’ili” market within Marib.

Military experts suggest that these security incidents could serve as a justification for Saudi-backed forces to advance toward Marib city—the party’s final and most significant military stronghold.

Structural Marginalization

The pressure on Islah party is not limited to the battlefield. In a significant political move, Saudi Arabia has reportedly stripped the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, of key military powers, transferring them to a committee managed by Saudi officers.

Observers interpret this as a direct move by Riyadh to dismantle Islah’s influence and replace its presence in Marib and Taiz with newly formed local proxies.

As the geopolitical landscape shifts, Islah party finds itself at a crossroads: Is the party facing its final exclusion from the Yemeni political and military theater?

YPA