Yemen strikes blows to Saudi Arabia, with Jon Elmer

Summary

Jon Elmer presents a pro-Ansar Allah account of the fighting in Yemen and its regional repercussions. He argues that Saudi Arabia’s military campaign, blockade, and support for anti-Ansar Allah forces are driving the conflict, and says Saudi Arabia could end the escalation by withdrawing that support.

Yemen battlefield

Elmer describes a rapid advance along Yemen’s western coastal plain, followed by difficult fighting in the mountains around Taiz. He says Ansar Allah forces have surrounded Taiz and are negotiating rather than attacking the city.

Footage shown is presented as evidence of mountain combat, captured or destroyed vehicles and weapons belonging to Saudi-backed forces, and gains around key heights and routes.

Amnesty and battlefield tactics

Elmer highlights an amnesty for Yemeni fighters who stop fighting for Saudi-backed forces, saying they can return to their villages. He also discusses footage of drone-dropped munitions, FPV drone strikes, and mortar attacks, characterizing them as accurate and effective.

He says the videos show significant losses among opposing forces, while noting that the footage cannot establish how representative the selected strikes are.

Saudi involvement and retaliation

Elmer points to equipment and insignia that he says indicate Saudi support—and possibly direct Saudi participation—in the fighting. He frames Ansar Allah’s attacks on Saudi oil facilities and airports as retaliation for the war on Yemen and the blockade.

He reports claims of damage to Aramco facilities and Riyadh’s airport, including deaths and injuries, and criticizes Saudi authorities for not warning the public. These claims are presented as Elmer’s account and as reports he cites.

Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

The report turns to Iranian warnings about ships disabling their tracking systems or using routes Iran considers unauthorized. Elmer cites reports of incidents involving tankers and says Iran is escalating cautiously while asserting control over the strait.

He notes that it is unclear whether the tankers’ damage was caused by mines, despite Iranian messaging that suggests this.

U.S. carrier imagery

Elmer discusses murals and markings on the USS Abraham Lincoln after its return to port. He interprets them as evidence of attacks and substantial combat activity, contrasting them with public accounts that he says minimized threats to U.S. ships.

He also criticizes the aircraft markings celebrating bombs dropped, arguing that they reflect the character of the campaign.

Presenters and contributors

Jon Elmer presents this segment. The full livestream’s participants, as identified in the video metadata, were Ali Abunimah, Nora Barrows-Friedman, Jon Elmer, and Asem Alnabih.