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Its fighters largely comprise of salafist but it doesn't officially follow the movement
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Update post Hudaydah offensive. Corrected and cited other parts of article.
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{{short description|Yemeni government militia in the Yemeni Civil War}}
{{short description|Yemeni government militia in the Yemeni Civil War}}
{{infobox war faction
{{infobox war faction
|name = Giants Brigades
| name = Southern Giants Brigades
|native_name =
| native_name = ألوية العمالقة الجنوبية
|native_name_lang =
| native_name_lang = ar
|war = the [[Yemeni Civil War (2015-Present)]]
| war = the [[Yemeni Civil War (2015-Present)]]
|image = [[File:GiantsBrigadeLogo.jpg|255px]]
| image = [[File:GiantsBrigadeLogo.jpg|255px]]
|caption = Logo used by the Giants Brigades
| caption = Logo used by the Giants Brigades
|active =
| active =
|ideology =
| ideology =
|clans =
| clans =
|leaders = Abdulrahman Abu Zarah Mahram
| leaders = Abdulrahman Abu Zara'a Al Muharrami
|headquarters =
| headquarters =
|area =
| area =
|size = 20,000-28,000
| size = 20,000 – 30,000
|partof = {{flagdeco|Yemen}} [[Yemeni National Resistance]]
| partof = {{flagdeco|Yemen}} Yemeni Joint Forces
|predecessor =
| website = https://alamalika.net/
|successor =
| predecessor =
|split_from =
| successor =
| split_from =
|allies = {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}<br>{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}<br>[[File:Flag of the Tihamah Resistance.svg|border|23x15px]] [[Tihamah Resistance]]
| allies = {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}<br>{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}<br>[[File:Flag of South Yemen.svg|border|23x15px]] [[Southern Movement]]<br>[[File:Flag of the Tihamah Resistance.svg|border|23x15px]] [[Tihamah Resistance]]<br>[[File:National Resistance.jpg|border|23x15px]] [[Yemeni National Resistance]]
|opponents = {{flagicon image|Houthis Logo.png}} [[Houthis]]<br>{{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} [[Hezbollah]]
| opponents = {{flagicon image|Houthis Logo.png}} [[Houthis]]<br>{{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} [[Hezbollah]]
|battles = [[Yemeni Civil War (2015-Present)]]
| battles = [[Yemeni Civil War (2015-Present)]]
*[[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]]
*[[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]]
**[[Taiz campaign (2015–present)]]
**[[Taiz campaign (2015–present)]]
Line 27: Line 28:
}}
}}


The '''Giants Brigades''' ({{Lang-ar|الوية العمالقة}} ''al-Weyat al-Amaliqa'') is a militia that fights for the Yemeni government. Its fighters are mostly tribesmen from [[Lahj]] and [[Abyan]] and natives of [[Dammaj]] in the [[Saada Governorate]] but were expelled by the Houthis in early 2014, most of the fighters are [[Salafis]] as well. The militia is part of the [[Yemeni National Resistance]] and is the largest faction in the formation. The Giants Brigades also receives extensive support from the [[United Arab Emirates]] militarily and financially.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/who-are-uae-backed-forces-fighting-western-front-yemen|title=Who are the UAE-backed forces fighting on the western front in Yemen? - Yemen|website=ReliefWeb|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref>
The '''Giants Brigades''' ({{Lang-ar|الوية العمالقة}} ''al-Weyat al-Amaliqa'') is a militia that fights for the Yemeni government. Its fighters are mostly tribesmen from [[Lahj]] and [[Abyan]] and forcibly displaced non-local [[Salafi movement|Salafi]] students of [[Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi'i|Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi'is]] ''Dar al-hadith'' religious institute in [[Dammaj]],[[Saada Governorate]] that were expelled by the [[Houthi movement|Houthis]] in early 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Non-local Salafis evicted from Dammaj. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Non-local+Salafis+evicted+from+Dammaj.-a0355550435 |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref> The militia is part of the Yemeni Joint Forces and is the largest faction in the formation. The Giants Brigades also receives extensive support from the [[United Arab Emirates]] militarily and financially.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/who-are-uae-backed-forces-fighting-western-front-yemen|title=Who are the UAE-backed forces fighting on the western front in Yemen? - Yemen|website=ReliefWeb|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The brigades were originally in the former North Yemeni military since the early 1970s. After Yemen unified, these brigades saw intensive action in the 1994 civil war and continued to be an effective unit in the Yemeni military. During the Yemeni civil war, the remnants of this elite unit withdrew to the southern Lahej and Shabwah governorates. They were completely rebuilt with United Arab Emirates' (UAE) help, and no fewer than three brigades exist in the Al Hudaydah area. They have shown their military power during the [[Al Hudaydah governarate offensive]], where they have killed hundreds of Houthi militants. They were fiercely loyal to late former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and have continued to be closely aligned with his family and the Republican Guards unit which were loyal to him.
The brigades were originally in the former North Yemeni military since the early 1970s. After Yemen unified, these brigades saw intensive action in the 1994 civil war and continued to be an effective unit in the Yemeni military. The original Giants Forces are no longer officially present and have been broken up and distributed in different areas over the years. The current Giants Brigades are a relatively new force in Yemen. They emerged out of the [[Southern Movement|Southern Resistance]] that fought the Houthis in the South at the beginning of the conflict in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2018-10-20 |title=من هي ألوية العمالقة ومن أسسها وماهي إنجازاتها |url=https://alamalika.net/site/2018/10/20/1378/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Houthis’ retaliation for Shabwa |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/houthis-retaliation-shabwa |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Middle East Institute |language=en}}</ref> They have shown their military power during the [[Al Hudaydah offensive|Al Hudaydah governarate offensive]], where they have killed hundreds of Houthi militants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-11 |title=Yemen: Averting a Destructive Battle for Hodeida |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/gulf-and-arabian-peninsula/yemen/b59-yemen-averting-destructive-battle-hodeida |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Crisis Group |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2018 the militia alongside Arab coalition forces took control of several pockets in [[Taiz]] from the Houthis, in the fighting several Houthi fighters were killed and several pieces of their equipment were either damaged or destroyed. After taking control of the "Mocha Interception" in the city the militia alongside allied forces including other factions in the National Resistance, the [[Tihamah Resistance]] and Yemeni military they began to advance towards the "Bara Junction" to cut the Houthis' supply lines. The commander of the brigades, Abu Zahra Al Mahrami, distanced links between himself and his brigades from the Southern movement and the Southern Transitional council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/region//yemeni-giants-brigade-takes-control-of-several-highlands-causing-losses-to-houthis|title=Yemeni giant's brigade forces take full control of Al Mocha intersection|website=Khaleej Times|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref>
In May 2018 the militia alongside [[Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen|Arab coalition]] forces took control of several pockets in [[Taiz]] from the Houthis, in the fighting several Houthi fighters were killed and several pieces of their equipment were either damaged or destroyed. After taking control of the "Mocha Interception" in the city the militia alongside allied forces including other factions in the Joint Forces, the [[Tihamah Resistance]] and [[Yemeni National Resistance]] they began to advance towards the "Bara Junction" to cut the Houthis' supply lines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/region//yemeni-giants-brigade-takes-control-of-several-highlands-causing-losses-to-houthis|title=Yemeni giant's brigade forces take full control of Al Mocha intersection|website=Khaleej Times|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref>

Although many members of the Giants Brigades are known to be [[Salafi movement|Salafists]], most of them are first and foremost [[South Yemen|southerners]], and they have a positive relationship with the [[Southern Transitional Council|Southern Transitional Council (STC)]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Security in South Yemen |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/security-south-yemen |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Middle East Institute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=10 Conflicts to Worry About in 2022: Yemen |url=https://acleddata.com/10-conflicts-to-worry-about-in-2022/yemen/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=ACLED |language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2021, the Giants announced it had sent troops to [[Shabwah Governorate|Shabwa province]] "to liberate areas that fell into Huthi hands",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hulis |first=Saber |date=2021-12-27 |title=قوات العمالقة تنطلق من الساحل الغربي إلى الساحل الشرقي محافظة شبوة |url=https://alamalika.net/site/2021/12/27/%d9%82%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%b7%d9%84%d9%82-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%ad%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ba%d8%b1%d8%a8%d9%8a-%d8%a5/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة |language=ar}}</ref> driving out the rebels in just two weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-11 |title=Yemen's southern forces say they have liberated oil-rich Shabwa province from Houthis |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/2022/01/11/yemens-southern-forces-say-they-have-liberated-oil-rich-shabwa-province-from-houthis/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Reuters |date=2022-01-10 |title=Yemeni pro-govt forces say they have retaken Shabwa from Houthis |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemeni-forces-say-they-have-retaken-energy-producing-province-houthis-2022-01-10/ |access-date=2022-04-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hulis |first=Saber |date=2022-01-10 |title=ألوية العمالقة تعلن تحرير جميع مديريات محافظة شبوة من مليشيات الحوثي |url=https://alamalika.net/site/2022/01/10/%d8%a3%d9%84%d9%88%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%86-%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%ac%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%b9-%d9%85%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a7/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة |language=ar}}</ref> They also seized southern areas of neighbouring [[Marib Governorate|Marib province]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hulis |first=Saber |date=2022-01-25 |title=ألوية العمالقة تعلن تحرير مركز مديرية حريب بمحافظة مأرب |url=https://alamalika.net/site/2022/01/25/%d8%a3%d9%84%d9%88%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%86-%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d9%85%d8%b1%d9%83%d8%b2-%d9%85%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة |language=ar}}</ref>, where the rebels and loyalists have been engaged in a months-long [[Battle of Marib|battles]] to seize its strategic capital city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UAE-trained Giants put brakes on Yemen's Huthi rebels |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/uae-trained-giants-put-brakes-on-yemen-s-huthi-rebels/ar-AATrxfr |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=MSN |language=en-US}}</ref> ‎After completing military operation Storm of the South the Southern Giants announced the redeployment of it's forces after having "completed its mission" and that its troops remain on the frontlines ready to repel any Huthi attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hulis |first=Saber |date=2022-01-28 |title=بعد استكمال عملية إعصار الجنوب العمالقة الجنوبية تبدأ نقل ألويتها إلى عرينها بجاهزية عالية |url=https://alamalika.net/site/2022/01/28/%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%af-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%83%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a5%d8%b9%d8%b5%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ac%d9%86%d9%88%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة |language=ar}}</ref>

On 7 April 2022, the Yemeni President [[Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi|Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi]] issued an order dismissing Vice President [[Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar]] and delegating his powers to a newly formed [[Presidential Leadership Council|presidential council]] to lead the country through a transitional period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-07 |title=Yemen’s president steps aside amid efforts to end war |url=https://apnews.com/article/houthis-yemen-middle-east-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-272f0f343116c4a9f0224af96f2169e7 |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ghobari |first=Mohamed |last2=Tolba |first2=Ahmed |date=2022-04-07 |title=Yemen president cedes powers to council as Saudi Arabia pushes to end war |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemen-president-relieves-deputy-his-post-2022-04-07/ |access-date=2022-04-09}}</ref> The leader of the Giants Abdulrahman Abu Zara’a Al Muharrami is a member of this leadership council.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-07 |title=A look at Yemen’s new presidential leadership council and its powers |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/04/07/A-look-at-Yemen-s-new-security-council-and-its-powers |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 16:25, 9 April 2022

Southern Giants Brigades
ألوية العمالقة الجنوبية
LeadersAbdulrahman Abu Zara'a Al Muharrami
Size20,000 – 30,000
Part of Yemeni Joint Forces
Allies Saudi Arabia
 United Arab Emirates
Southern Movement
Tihamah Resistance
File:National Resistance.jpg Yemeni National Resistance
Opponents Houthis
Hezbollah
Battles and warsYemeni Civil War (2015-Present)
Websitehttps://alamalika.net/

The Giants Brigades (Arabic: الوية العمالقة al-Weyat al-Amaliqa) is a militia that fights for the Yemeni government. Its fighters are mostly tribesmen from Lahj and Abyan and forcibly displaced non-local Salafi students of Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi'is Dar al-hadith religious institute in Dammaj,Saada Governorate that were expelled by the Houthis in early 2014.[4] The militia is part of the Yemeni Joint Forces and is the largest faction in the formation. The Giants Brigades also receives extensive support from the United Arab Emirates militarily and financially.[5]

History

The brigades were originally in the former North Yemeni military since the early 1970s. After Yemen unified, these brigades saw intensive action in the 1994 civil war and continued to be an effective unit in the Yemeni military. The original Giants Forces are no longer officially present and have been broken up and distributed in different areas over the years. The current Giants Brigades are a relatively new force in Yemen. They emerged out of the Southern Resistance that fought the Houthis in the South at the beginning of the conflict in 2015.[6][7] They have shown their military power during the Al Hudaydah governarate offensive, where they have killed hundreds of Houthi militants.[8]

In May 2018 the militia alongside Arab coalition forces took control of several pockets in Taiz from the Houthis, in the fighting several Houthi fighters were killed and several pieces of their equipment were either damaged or destroyed. After taking control of the "Mocha Interception" in the city the militia alongside allied forces including other factions in the Joint Forces, the Tihamah Resistance and Yemeni National Resistance they began to advance towards the "Bara Junction" to cut the Houthis' supply lines.[9]

Although many members of the Giants Brigades are known to be Salafists, most of them are first and foremost southerners, and they have a positive relationship with the Southern Transitional Council (STC).[10][11]

In December 2021, the Giants announced it had sent troops to Shabwa province "to liberate areas that fell into Huthi hands",[12] driving out the rebels in just two weeks.[13][14][15] They also seized southern areas of neighbouring Marib province[16], where the rebels and loyalists have been engaged in a months-long battles to seize its strategic capital city.[17] ‎After completing military operation Storm of the South the Southern Giants announced the redeployment of it's forces after having "completed its mission" and that its troops remain on the frontlines ready to repel any Huthi attacks.[18]

On 7 April 2022, the Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi issued an order dismissing Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and delegating his powers to a newly formed presidential council to lead the country through a transitional period.[19][20] The leader of the Giants Abdulrahman Abu Zara’a Al Muharrami is a member of this leadership council.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Yemeni forces on the offensive to take Hodeidah - in pictures". The National. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Backed by Saudi air support, Yemen troops advance deeper into Houthi rebel-held Hodeida". Japantimes.co.jp. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Yemen National Resistance, Brigades al-'Amalaqah and Tihama Forces prepare for massive military campaign to liberate Hodeidah from Houthi clutches". Wam.ae. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Non-local Salafis evicted from Dammaj. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  5. ^ "Who are the UAE-backed forces fighting on the western front in Yemen? - Yemen". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  6. ^ admin (2018-10-20). "من هي ألوية العمالقة ومن أسسها وماهي إنجازاتها". المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. ^ "The Houthis' retaliation for Shabwa". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  8. ^ "Yemen: Averting a Destructive Battle for Hodeida". Crisis Group. 2018-06-11. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  9. ^ "Yemeni giant's brigade forces take full control of Al Mocha intersection". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Security in South Yemen". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  11. ^ "10 Conflicts to Worry About in 2022: Yemen". ACLED. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  12. ^ Hulis, Saber (2021-12-27). "قوات العمالقة تنطلق من الساحل الغربي إلى الساحل الشرقي محافظة شبوة". المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  13. ^ "Yemen's southern forces say they have liberated oil-rich Shabwa province from Houthis". The National. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  14. ^ Reuters (2022-01-10). "Yemeni pro-govt forces say they have retaken Shabwa from Houthis". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-04-09. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ Hulis, Saber (2022-01-10). "ألوية العمالقة تعلن تحرير جميع مديريات محافظة شبوة من مليشيات الحوثي". المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  16. ^ Hulis, Saber (2022-01-25). "ألوية العمالقة تعلن تحرير مركز مديرية حريب بمحافظة مأرب". المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  17. ^ "UAE-trained Giants put brakes on Yemen's Huthi rebels". MSN. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  18. ^ Hulis, Saber (2022-01-28). "بعد استكمال عملية إعصار الجنوب العمالقة الجنوبية تبدأ نقل ألويتها إلى عرينها بجاهزية عالية". المركز الإعلامي لألوية العمالقة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  19. ^ "Yemen's president steps aside amid efforts to end war". AP NEWS. 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  20. ^ Ghobari, Mohamed; Tolba, Ahmed (2022-04-07). "Yemen president cedes powers to council as Saudi Arabia pushes to end war". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  21. ^ "A look at Yemen's new presidential leadership council and its powers". Al Arabiya English. 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2022-04-09.


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