Yemen Conflict Observatory
// Actor Profile
Southern Giants Brigades
Updated: 31 January 2024
More information
- Methodology
Affiliated Actors
ACLED actors affiliated with the Southern Giants Brigades are:
- Giants Brigades
- West Coast Joint Forces [umbrella actor]
Methodology Links
Coding decisions around the Yemen war
- A brief overview of ACLED’s coding and sourcing methodology for Yemen
- A brief overview of the most frequently asked questions by users of ACLED data
- Guides for using and accessing ACLED data and documentation for ACLED’s core methodology
The Southern Giants Brigades – previously known as Giants Brigades – are a militia led by Salafist leader ‘Abu Zaraa’ al-Muharrami, comprised predominantly of Salafist and tribal fighters from southern governorates. Established in 2018 with the support of the United Arab Emirates, they joined the camp of the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) with the main goal of liberating the West Coast from the Houthis. They are estimated at around 30,000 fighters. Since 2019, the Giants Brigades have responded to the Joint Force’s joint command. Their main area of activity is the West Coast, though lately they expanded their operations in Shabwah, Marib, and al-Dhali.
Interactive Map of the Southern Giants Brigades 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.
Southern Giants Brigades Leadership
The leadership of the Giants Brigades reflects the composition of its military units, integrating Salafi leaders and individuals from Lahij governorate, and especially from its Yafi district. Abdulrahman ‘Abu Zuraa’ al-Muharrami is the founder and current commander of the Giants Brigades. Hailing from Yafi district, he conducted his studies in the Salafi school of Dar al-Hadith in Dammaj.1Menbar Aden, ‘Get acquainted with the biography of Commander Abu Zar`ah al-Muharrami,’ 8 April 2022 In 2017, he assumed the supervision of the UAE-backed operations on the West Coast, concurrently leading the nascent units of the Giants Brigades.2Al Bayan, ‘The liberation of Al-Khawkhah is the result of Emirati efforts to support the resistance,’ 11 December 2017 Muharrami’s deputy is Hamdi Shukri al-Subayhi, a Salafi leader from Lahij who spearheaded the campaign to recapture the West Coast.3SMA News, ‘Hamdi Shukri al-Subaihi appointed as deputy commander of the-Giants (al-Amalika) Brigades,’ 28 February 2020 In 2019, Muharrami was dismissed under charges of corruption, and replaced by Salafi leader Ali al-Hassani. When subsequently reinstated in June 2020, Muharrami faced the opposition of several military leaders.4Arabi 21, ‘The forces of the “Yemeni giants” threaten to withdraw from the coast (photo),’ 19 June 2020 After spending two years in the UAE, al-Hassani has recently returned to Shabwa governorate.
Historical background
The Giants Brigades stemmed from the Southern Resistance units that opposed the Houthi advance in Aden in 2015. They operated in the West Coast under Abu Zaraa’s leadership, until President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi decreed the establishment of three brigades in January 2018.5Nadwa al-Dawsari, ‘Fantasies of State Power Cannot Solve Yemen’s War,’ The Century Foundation, 13 July 2021 In April 2018, the Giants Brigades joined Operation Golden Spear, expanding their activity to western Taizz, while also advancing towards al-Durayhimi district in Hudayda. In October 2018,6Al Amalika, ‘Who are the Giants Brigades, who founded them, and what are their achievements?,’ 20 October 2018 13 brigades were officially established, for a total of 30,000 fighters – including 7,000 fighters from the Tihama Resistance – making them the largest group under Emirati command on the West Coast.
In 2019, the Salafi leader Ali al-Hassani was appointed commander of the Giants Brigades, replacing Abu Zaraa for about a year.7Al Masdar Online, ‘Ambiguity in the status of the leadership of the Giants Brigades and the Emirates prevents the return of Commander-in-Chief “Al-Hassani” to the coast,’ 21 June 2020 In October 2019, the Giants Brigades expanded their operations to Abyan, supporting Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in their conflict against the IRG. Additionally, some forces were relocated to al-Dhali to counter the advance of the Houthis,8Nadwa al-Dawsari, ‘Fantasies of State Power Cannot Solve Yemen’s War,’ The Century Foundation, 13 July 2021 while sporadic activity was recorded in Lahj, Aden, and al-Bayda. Patterns of activity remained largely unchanged in 2020, despite the reinstatement of Abu Zaraa as their commander in June.
In December 2021, the appointment of pro-STC Governor Awad al-Awlaqi in Shabwa governorate eased the redeployment of the Giants Brigades in Shabwa to counter the Houthi advance. In January 2022, they launched Operation Southern Cyclone, effectively retaking Shabwa governorate and advancing in Marib. In conjunction, they changed their name to Southern Giants Brigades.
Timeline
- 2018
- Jan. | President Hadi decrees the establishment of three brigades
- Apr. – Jul. | The Giants Brigades join Operation Golden Spear and Operation Red Thunder in Hudayda
- Dec. | Stockholm Agreement puts an end to the battle for Hudayda
- 2019 | The Giants Brigades deploy to Abyan and al-Dhali
- 2021
- Dec. | The Giants Brigades redeploy to Shabwa
- 2022
- Jan. | The Giants Brigades launch Operation Southern Cyclone in Shabwa and Marib
- Jan. | The militias change their name to ‘Southern Giants Brigades’
- Apr. | Muharrami is appointed member of the PLC