National Resistance Forces (Guards of the Republic Brigades)

Updated: 31 January 2024

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  • Methodology
Affiliated Actors

ACLED actors affiliated with the Guardians of the Republic are:

  • National Resistance (Guards of the Republic)
  • West Coast Joint Forces [umbrella actor]
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The National Resistance Force (NRF) – also known as Guards of the Republic – are paramilitary units led by Brigadier General Tariq Saleh, the nephew of late President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The NRF was established in early 2018 with the support and funding of the United Arab Emirates. It has a national agenda aimed at freeing the West Coast and Yemen’s north from the Houthis. The NRF are estimated at around 4,000 fighters, with an additional 5,000 believed to be trained in a UAE military base in the port of Assab, Eritrea. Their main area of activity is Yemen’s West Coast.

Interactive Map of NRF Activities

This dashboard encompasses political violence events associated with the Yemen war since the onset of the regional conflict on 26 March 2015. It includes all political violence events in Yemen, and only war-related events in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. By default, the map displays data for the period beginning with the UN-mediated truce, on 2 April 2022, up to the most recent week. 

Filters on the left allow users to define a time range and analyze trends in more detail. It is possible to focus on specific governorates of Yemen and obtain Admin1-level statistics by clicking on the relevant areas on the map.

NRF Leadership

Brigadier General Tariq Saleh is the son of Major General Mohammed Abdullah Saleh and nephew of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.1Katherine Zimmerman, ‘Saleh Family Network,’ 20 February 2012 Prior to 2011, he served as commander of the 3rd Armored Brigade and of the Presidential Guard, and after 2014 led his uncle’s praetorian guard. Since April 2022, Tariq Saleh has been a member of the Presidential Leadership Council. Albeit backed by the UAE, he holds political ambitions diverging from the Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) and advocates for Yemen’s unity. The NRF’s military leadership is primarily comprised of former Republican Guard and Special Forces members, such as Brigadier General Sadiq Duwayd – Tariq Saleh’s deputy and spokesperson – from the northern Khawlan tribe. The dominance of northerners in the NRF’s leadership has caused tensions with the local Tihami elite. The NRF are headquartered in al-Mukha, on Taizz’s western coast. However, the NRF’s political office has branches in al-Khawkha, Taizz, Shabwa, and Marib.

Historical background

In December 2017, the alliance between the Houthis and Ali Abdullah Saleh collapsed, leading to major confrontations in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Initially presumed to have been killed alongside his uncle on 4 December 2017, Tariq Saleh later resurfaced in the south of the country in early 2018, reportedly residing under the protection of the UAE.2Middle East Eye, ‘Death of a leader: Where next for Yemen’s GPC after murder of Saleh?,’ 23 January 2018 After establishing his headquarters in the Bir Ahmad area of Aden, Tariq began coordinating and training a military force composed of disbanded units of the Republican Guard and the Special Forces, under the auspices of the UAE and with the political support of the STC.

In early 2018, Tariq Saleh established three brigades: one in Bir Ahmad, Aden; one on the West Coast, composed of members of the 10th Republican Guard Brigade; and one in Lahij, at the al-Anad base.3Al Araby, ‘Three military brigades are being trained in the south under the supervision of Tariq Saleh,’ 18 February 2018 His brother, Ammar, was stationed at al-Anad and tasked with facilitating the transit of former military officers fleeing the north.4Al Jazeera, ‘Tariq Saleh.. a Yemeni soldier on whom the UAE is betting,’ 5 February 2018 By mid-February 2018, Tariq Saleh met the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) Governor of Hudayda, Hasan Tahir, laying the groundwork for a military operation on the West Coast.5Al Araby, ‘Tariq Saleh appears with the governor of Hodeidah…and news of his joining the fronts,’ 18 february 2018 However, tensions remained high with other members of the IRG camp, especially the Southern Resistance6Lahj Press, ‘The leaders of the southern and Tihami resistance categorically reject the presence of “Tariq Afash” on the West Coast front,’ 2015 and Islah.7Al Murasil Net, ‘The military situation in Taiz exploded, street war broke out between the coalition factions, and news of an Emirati reform deal paid for by Abu Al-Abbas (exclusive details),’ 25 April 2018

On 19 April 2018,8Twitter_@HurasAljumhuria, 19 April 2018 the NRF took part in their first operation on the West Coast, joining Operation Golden Spear. Subsequently, the NRF participated in Operation Red Thunder and in the battle of Hudayda, with Tariq Saleh acquiring growing influence among the UAE-backed forces. In July 2018, 3,000 fighters from the Tihama Resistance were assigned to the NRF. 

In July 2019, the NRF became part of the Joint Forces on the West Coast, formally led by Major General Haytham Qasim Tahir. Despite the Joint Forces’ spokesperson publicly denying Tariq Saleh’s prominent role within the new entity, he effectively exercised decision-making authority over the UAE-backed units stationed on the West Coast.9Erem News, ‘The fact that Tariq Saleh was appointed commander of the joint forces in the western coast of Yemen,’ 10 July 2019 Between 2019 and 2020, Tariq Saleh’s growing influence led to disagreements and armed clashes with the Tihama Resistance.

On 25 March 2020, Tariq Saleh established the Political Office for National Resistance. In his inaugural speech, Tariq Saleh clarified that his forces had no intention to replace the Yemeni government; rather, they wanted to be part of it.10Nadwa al-Dawsari, ‘Fantasies of State Power Cannot Solve Yemen’s War,’ The Century Foundation, 13 July 2021 This ambition eventually materialized with his appointment as a member of the newly established Presidential Leadership Council.

Timeline

  • 2018
    • Apr. | The Guards of the Republic join Operation Golden Spear
  • 2019
    • Jul. | The Guards of the Republic are integrated into the Joint Forces on the West Coast
  • 2020
    • 25 Mar. | The Political Office for National Resistance is established
  • 2022
    • Apr. | Tariq Saleh is appointed member of the PLC