Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC have been attacking Yemen for months now, vowing to continue the war until the re-installation of the former Hadi government in power. With Hadi allies taking over the southern port of Aden, the first GCC ground troops have arrived.

The source: the United Arab Emirates. An entire UAE brigade arrived this week in Aden, complete with tanks and armored vehicles. Officials bragged that the UAE forces participated in recent battles against the Shi’ite Houthis, and played a role in territorial gains for Hadi loyalists.

The Houthis still control the vast majority of the country, but the capture of Aden has raised hopes for the Saudis and their allies that the war may be starting to turn in their favor. The deployment of UAE troops suggests they are betting heavily on that momentum continuing.

Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi was “elected” as president of Yemen in 2012, in a single candidate vote in which no one else was allowed to run. He resigned in January amid disputes with the Houthis over a transition to actual democratic elections. The Saudis declared war in March, vowing to reinstall Hadi.