Sultan Al-Arad, a member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and governor of Marib province, stated that government forces withdrawn from the west coast are regrouping and will return to the battlefield. In an interview, Al-Arad described the events on the west coast as "painful and unfortunate," but said such setbacks are part of the nature of war. Al-Arad accused the Houthi rebels of pushing the peace process into a dead end and "forcing the option of war" back into Yemen. He said government forces are still fighting on multiple fronts, and the ultimate goal in Marib and other areas remains "recapturing the capital, Sana'a." Al-Arad also stated that troops withdrawn from the coast are being reorganized in Marib. He said, "The withdrawn troops are currently being readjusted, and they will return to the fight in some form."
