Sultan al-Arada, the governor of Marib and a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, has publicly addressed the recent withdrawal of government forces from the country’s west coast. In an interview with the state-run Saba TV, al-Arada characterized the loss of territory to Houthi forces as a "painful and unfortunate" development, though he framed the retreat as a standard tactical setback inherent to the ongoing conflict.

Al-Arada emphasized that the government military is currently in the process of regrouping and intends to resume operations on the battlefield. He placed the responsibility for the escalation of hostilities on the Houthi movement, alleging that their actions have effectively stalled the peace process. According to al-Arada, the Houthi leadership has left the government with no alternative but to pursue a military solution to the conflict. The statement signals a hardening of the government's stance following recent territorial losses, moving away from diplomatic efforts and toward a renewed focus on military engagement.