Yemen: The Tide Turns on the Western Coast

The tide is starting to turn in Yemen's civil war. After Houthi rebels assassinated former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the long-term battlefield dynamics in the country have shifted to favor the Saudi-led coalition. On Dec. 7, Saudi coalition forces began pushing along Yemen's west coast toward the port city of al-Hudaydah, the only major port still under Houthi control and a critical lifeline for the Houthi stronghold in Sanaa. Although previous attempts to push along the western coast -- both towards al-Hudaydah and along the road from the city of Taiz -- resulted in a stalemate, this latest push is making progress....