Al Mukalla: At least 200 tribesmen, who previously supported Al Houthis in the northern province of Jawf, defected and joined government forces, Yemen’s Defence Ministry said.
The tribesmen were among thousands of locals who assisted in taking control of the province three years ago and have recently taken part in the militia’s military operations against government forces.
Brigadier Ali Mohsen Al Hadi, the commander of government’s 101 Brigade, said recent territorial gains in Jawf’s largest district, Khab and Sha’af, have accelerated defections among Al Houthis and the army vowed to protect and pardon tribesmen who desert Al Houthis before the arrival of government forces to their areas.
Al Hadi said the tribesmen had voluntarily stationed in his military camp where they will be prepared to join government forces on the battlefield.
Backed by massive air support and military logistics from the Saudi-led coalition, government troops took control of most of Jawf province after pushing Al Houthis from major cities and squeezing them in several small districts close to Saada, Al Houthis’ main stronghold. Hundreds of rebel fighters switched sides since December after Al Houthis killed former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, days after he led a brief military uprising in Sana’a.
Meanwhile, in the southern city of Taiz, coalition air strikes hit Al Houthi military positions and reinforcements as government forces on the ground pressed ahead against Al Houthis from the city’s outskirts. Residents and military commanders said on Monday the air strikes smoothed the way for government forces on the city’s western and eastern edges to make limited advances. As many as seven Al Houthi militants were killed in heavy clashes or by the coalition’s fighter jets on Monday.
Fighting has recently flared in Taiz, Yemen’s third largest city, after government forces launched a new push to expel Al Houthis from the city’s edges where they are stifling the city by blocking food and fuel supplies.
Brigadier General Abdo Abdullah Majili, Yemen’s army spokesperson, said government troops took control of a chain of mountains called Al Dhab and Al Malel in Bouqa region, east of Saada province.
Fighting also broke out outside Hays town in the western province of Hodeida as government forces pushed towards the town after Al Houthis, who hid in downtown areas, blew up a bridge to block the advancing forces. If government forces liberated Hays, they will be able to approach Hodeida’s major seaports on the Red Sea, which are infamous for being entry points for Iran’s supply of arms to Al Houthis.
