The Shi’ite Houthi militia which is loyal to Iran and receives support from the Islamic regime has moved its conquest of Yemen into a new stage, opening its battle for the southern port city of Aden which controls access to the Red Sea and ultimately to Eilat and Israel.

Earlier this month the Houthis established their temporary government, the Supreme Revolutionary Council, in the presidential castle in the capital city of Sana’a after besieging the previous government in the castle until it disbanded. 

On Monday, the new government led by acting president Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi ratified a decision to take over control of the country and called on the UN Security Council to “honor the will of the Yemenite people,” framing their coup as a locally supported event despite the fierce opposition the Houthi minority militia is facing having taken control.

After being forced to resign, former President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi remains under house arrest enforced by members of the Houthi militia “Ansar Allah.”

The Houthi militia is concentrating its efforts on establishing a base of power in central Yemen, dispersing protests against it with live fire.

In addition, special forces loyal to the Houthis have begun operations to try and capture governmental buildings in the Aden district of southern Yemen, with reports surfacing of battles breaking out between the Houthis and local forces near the Aden airport.

Aden has become the central goal of the Houthis, as control of the port city allows domination over entry to the Red Sea through which commerce transverses to Israel and Europe.

Foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council nations responded to the developments by expressing their concerns over the Iranian-backed conquest of Yemen, pressuring the UN Security Council to take action on the matter including issuing permission to conduct military operations in Yemen.