On February 26, 2021, Colonel Abdulgani Shaalan stood at the forefront of a pivotal battle along the Marib Dam, shielding the city from a fierce assault by Iran-backed Houthi forces. This clash was more than a fight for Marib—it was a defining moment for Yemen and the region’s geopolitical future.  

The Houthis, intent on seizing Marib after years of thwarted sieges since 2015, unleashed their elite "Death Brigades" to capture Al-Balaq Mountains, a strategic perch overlooking the city’s southwestern edge. Backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, who provided expertise and oversight, the attackers wielded advanced weapons and Iranian-trained tactics. In a bold initial push, they breached frontline defenses, prompting pro-Houthi media—from Sana’a to Tehran, Baghdad to Beirut—to trumpet an early, exaggerated claim of victory.  

Yet Marib’s defenders refused to yield. Colonel Shaalan, commanding an elite contingent of Special Security Forces alongside army units, resistance fighters, and local tribes, turned the tide. For the Houthis, this was a stepping stone to regional control; for Shaalan, it was a chance to defy their ambitions.  

With fearless resolve, he led a punishing counteroffensive, engaging the enemy directly and outmaneuvering their ranks. By dawn, the Houthis were reeling—decimated, with scores dead, wounded, or captured. The triumph, however, was bittersweet. Shaalan and several comrades gave their lives, their sacrifice echoing in mourning across Yemen.  

Who Was Abdulgani Shaalan?
Born in 1981 in Beit Shaalan, Hajjah Governorate, Abdulgani Shaalan graduated from Yemen’s College of Aviation and Air Defense in 2004. His military career spanned diverse roles, from radar and missile operations to battalion command and administrative positions within the Air Defense brigades.  

During Yemen’s 2011 uprising, Shaalan aligned himself with pro-democracy protesters, joining ranks with figures like Major General Abdulrab Al-Shaddadi. His trajectory shifted in 2014 when he became Deputy Director of Police in Al-Jawf. There, he led efforts to dismantle criminal networks and restore stability, cementing his reputation as a determined leader.  

A Leader in War and Security
When the Houthis captured Sana’a in 2015 and swept across Yemen, Shaalan joined the resistance in Marib under General Abdurabu Al-Shaddadi, former commander of the Third Military Region. Charged with protecting the city, he swiftly dismantled Houthi sleeper cells and led combat operations across fronts like Al-Jufaina and Al-Faw.  

His influence reached beyond the battlefield. In 2016, as commander of Marib’s Special Security Forces, Shaalan transformed the unit into an elite outfit. Despite scarce resources, he bolstered its strength, creating rapid response teams and special forces skilled in counterterrorism and urban combat.  

Under his stewardship, Marib evolved from a fragile outpost into a bastion of stability. It blossomed as a refuge for displaced Yemenis, drawing investment and growth—a stark contrast to the repression and ruin of Houthi-held territories.  

The Battle of Al-Balaq: A Defining Moment

By 2020, the Houthis, emboldened by gains in Nehm of Sana'a and Al-Jawf, escalated their assault on Marib. Iranian advisors, including Hassan Irloo, a former ambassador turned military strategist, orchestrated the offensive. The struggle for Al-Balaq Mountains became one of the war’s fiercest battles.  

Shaalan’s outnumbered forces faced relentless attacks but held firm with extraordinary grit. His leadership crushed the Houthi advance, forcing a humiliating retreat. Yet triumph came at a steep price—Shaalan fell in combat, a devastating loss of one of Yemen’s boldest commanders.  

The Houthis and their Iranian allies seized on his death for propaganda, with Tehran’s media branding him "the most dangerous commander of the Yemeni army." But their battlefield defeat eclipsed their words, underscoring Shaalan’s indelible impact.  

A Legacy That Endures
For six years, Colonel Shaalan anchored Yemen’s resistance with courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. He braved missile strikes and ambushes, steadfast in his defense of Yemen’s sovereignty.  

Four years after his death, the Special Security Forces he forged still guard Marib with unrelenting resolve. His vision and valor live on in those he trained, fueling the fight to reclaim Yemen’s republic.  

Shaalan’s legacy burns bright in the hearts of his people. A patriot to the end, he inspires generations of Yemenis battling for freedom and dignity. Though lost in battle, his spirit endures—a timeless emblem of resilience and heroism in Yemen’s storied history.