Who are Yemen's Southern Giants Brigades leading the fight against the Houthis?
The Giants Brigades have emerged as the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s most formidable fighting force.
Yemen’s Southern Giants Brigades are proving instrumental in a Saudi-backed offensive that has pushed the Houthis back from key positions along the Red Sea coast, but whether those gains translate into a sustained strategic advantage will depend on the government-aligned forces’ ability to overcome longstanding divisions.
Last month, the Houthis waged an offensive on the Red Sea coast, capturing many strategic locations including the city of Mokha and putting the Bab el-Mandeb under Houthi control. The loose and divided coalition of anti-Houthi forces — many of which rival each other — has since been moving to reverse those gains, with the internationally recognized government and Saudi Arabia launching Operation Yemen Dawn on Oct. 5.
Saudi-backed government forces have since retaken several areas near the Bab el-Mandeb, including Dhubab, Bab and Hadeid. Spearheading the offensive on the ground are the Giants Brigades, the most powerful force in the government-aligned camp.
The anti-Houthi coalition’s most capable fighting force
