SAUDI-LED COALITION BOOSTS OPERATIONS IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN YEMEN

AFP Photo/FAYEZ NURELDINE

On January 19, forces loyal to Saudi-backed Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi backed and the Saudi-led coalition captured Ba’arf Mount in Nati’ district of the central province of al-Bayda, according to the UAE-based al-Arabiya TV.

Saudi-led coalition warplanes supported the pro-Hadi forces attack and destroyed several positions of the Houthis in the province. Al-Arabiya said that several fighters of the Houthis were killed in the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes including a high rank commander “Abu Sam al-Kahlani”.

Yemeni sources also reported that pro-Hadi forces ambushed a group of the Houthis in Sawma’ah district of al-Bayda. Two fighters of the Houthis were reportedly killed in the ambush.

From its side, the Yemeni al-Masirah TV claimed that the Houthis repelled two attacks of pro-Hadi forces in the districts of Masra’ and Nati’. The Houthis killed several fighters and of pro-Hadi forces including a commander “Saleh al-Duribi” while repelling the attacks, according to the source.

Over the last two weeks the Saudi-led coalition has boosted its operation in central and northern Yemen in order to make up for its failure in western Yemen, where its troops are currently besieged by the Houthis from the southern, northern and eastern directions.

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