Battle of the Jabara Valley

The Battle of the Jabara Valley occurred between 26 and 29 August 2019, during the Second Yemeni Civil War. It was part of Operation Victory from God, a major Houthi-led offensive along the Saudi Arabian-Yemeni border.

Battle of the Jabara Valley
Part of Operation Victory from God
Map of the battle   Houthi forces   Saudi-led forces
Date 26 – 29 August 2019 (3 days) Location Jabara Valley, Yemen Result Decisive Houthi victory Saudi reinforcements decimated. Saudi forces encircled and destroyed
Belligerents
Houthi government Houthi fighters	Saudi Arabia al-Fateh Brigade
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Radad al-Hashemi (al-Fateh Brigade)
Strength
Around 500	1,100-2,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown but less than 250	1,000–1,900 killed or captured, 100 escaped 200+ vehicles destroyed or captured

The battle

A Saudi Arabian auxiliary force of around 1,100 men from the al-Fateh Brigade launched an offensive into the Jabara Valley in Yemen's Saada Governorate against Houthi forces. When the al-Fateh Brigade entered the valley, it was initially met with no resistance. A Houthi force then enveloped the Saudi-aligned force and besieged it for four days. Saudi air support was ineffective at breaking the envelopment, with Houthi sources reporting that the Saudis accidentally struck their own positions with airstrikes. On 29 August 2019, a small breakout occurred with about 100 men from the pro-Saudi force escaping. The remaining thousand pro-Saudi troops capitulated, with approximately 1,000 to 2,000 killed or captured. The battle was part of the initial phase of Operation Victory from God.

Aftermath

Houthi sources reported that a Saudi airstrike killed several Yemeni prisoners of war captured during the battle.

The Houthis continued their offensive in course of September 2019.

Use of foreign weaponry by Saudis

NGOs from the EU have discovered Arms Exports to Saudi Arabia that had been used in Yemen, notably in the Jabara Valley.