RIYADH – The Yemeni army backed by the Arab coalition forces launched amajor military operation to liberate the rest of the province of Khob andShaf, the largest district of Al-Jouf province north of Yemen.
The army’s media center confirmed that significant progress has been madefollowing the launch of the operation and about 17 kilometers of theremaining parts under the control of the Houthi militia in the Habib andShuf district northeast of Al-Jouf, have been liberated, with reportscoming in about heavy casualties among the militias.
A statement issued by the Yemeni army stated that the fighters of the Arabcoalition led by Saudi Arabia, launched several air raids targetingpositions and military machinery belonging to the Houthi militias.
Coalition forces destroyed three ballistic missile launchers in Al-Mutamaarea and six tanks and three armored carriers in Ham and Sabreen fronts,which were coming from Sa’ada governorate to Al-Jawf as reinforcements forthe militias, in addition to the destruction of an arms cache.
A military source said that the fighting continues as the Yemeni armyprogresses under the cover of heavy protective firing by the Arab Alliance.
Dozens of militants are reported dead and wounded in the ranks of themilitia, the military source said, without giving specific numbers due tothe on going fighting.
The Yemeni army controls Naaman and Nat’e in Al-Bayda
At Bayda, sources told Al Arabiya earlier that the Yemeni army, which wasdeployed on Thursday, controlled Nayman and Nat’e.
The National Army forces continue to advance in the province of Al-Bayda,for two days, and several strategic sites in the province were restoredincluding the most important site Al-Tha’alib.
On Monday, the Yemeni army liberated the Directorate of Mallagim, the thirddistrict directorate of Al-Bayda province, at the center of Yemen, in alarge and accelerated field advance of the military operation to liberatethe province amid the collapse and flight of the Houthi militias.
The Yemeni army announced the killing of 80 senior leaders of the Houthimilitias in battles with the forces of the National Army and throughcoalition raids since the beginning of December in a number of fronts,which are witnessing continuous clashes amid major Houthi collapses.
The Yemeni army also revealed that the militias lost 300 members and fieldcommanders in the Bihan Shabwa front, as well as reported the killing ofHouthi field commanders in Al-Baydaa frontiers, Sanaa, Hajjah, Saada, AlDalea, Hodeidah and Al Jouf.