Speaking in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat from the city of Marib, Bin Aziz said the restructuring has included reorganizing military units, defining operational sectors and responsibilities, training personnel, and overhauling administrative systems in line with Yemen’s Armed Forces Service Law.

Bin Aziz said the reforms were aimed at strengthening the military’s effectiveness while rebuilding capabilities following years of conflict with the Iran-backed Houthi movement. He said the armed forces have continued to improve combat readiness despite the challenges posed by the prolonged war.

He said the military had introduced a smart identification card system covering about 95% of armed forces personnel, describing the initiative as a significant step toward eliminating duplication, overlapping unit structures and administrative irregularities.

According to Bin Aziz, integrating various military formations under a unified command remains one of the government’s primary objectives, although he acknowledged the process would require time because of the complexity of incorporating multiple armed groups into a single institutional framework.

He said the conflict that began in 2015 forced Yemen’s armed forces to rebuild while fighting, combining remnants of the former military with newly established units. During the conflict, he said, the military suffered tens of thousands of casualties while continuing operations against Houthi forces.

Addressing battlefield developments, Bin Aziz said modern warfare has increasingly relied on drones, ballistic missiles, electronic warfare systems and precision-guided weapons. However, he argued that technological advances have not diminished the importance of conventional ground forces in securing and holding territory.

He said the Yemeni military has established specialized units responsible for operating drones, electronic jamming systems and other advanced technologies, supported by personnel who have gained extensive combat experience during the conflict.

Bin Aziz also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting Yemen’s military, saying the Kingdom has trained hundreds of Yemeni military personnel across a range of specialties and maintained close cooperation throughout the conflict.

He described the relationship with Saudi Arabia as a strategic partnership extending beyond military coordination, adding that both countries view their security interests as closely linked in confronting Houthi threats.

The conflict in Yemen has continued despite a United Nations-brokered truce that came into effect in 2022, with intermittent clashes persisting between government forces and the Houthis in several parts of the country.