Yemen: Alliances hold together on both sides for now

The shaky alliance between Houthi rebels and former president Ali Abdullah Saleh remains tense, with regular negotiations between the two sides in a bid to retain their ‘cohesion’ against the Saudi Arabia-led coalition. Saleh may yet pursue a survival strategy separate from the Houthis. In the meantime, Saleh’s erstwhile ally Abdelmalek Al-Houthi has issued fresh threats about the capability of the arsenal at his disposal, claiming Houthi ballistic missiles can hit the UAE and Saudi capitals.