Al Mukalla: Yemeni government forces have attacked Al Houthi-held Al Rahidah town, south of the southern city of Taiz, from three directions as pro-government fighters scored fresh gains in Saada, in the north.
Local commanders have said that government forces, backed air support from the Saudi-led coalition, pushed towards the strategic town of Al Rahidah from south, west and east with the aim of scoring a major territorial victory in Taiz.
Abdul Basit Al Bahar, the deputy spokesperson for Yemen’s army in Taiz, told Gulf News that the first group of troops marched towards Al Rahidah from Karash and Al Sharija and stationed almost several kilometres, south of Al Rahidah.
The second group of army troops and allied forces moved towards the town from Al Qabeta and took control of a mountain that overlooks the eastern edges Al Rahidah.
Soldiers from 4th Infantry Brigade engaged in heavy battles with Al Houthi militants in Haifan district, west of Al Rahidah.
“Al Rahidah is a business hub for different districts. If Al Rahidah is liberated, Al Houthis would be pushed from the southern edges of the city which means partially lifting Al Houthis’ siege on Taiz,” Al Bahar said, adding that Yemen’s army is seeking to cut off arms supplies to Al Houthi pockets in the southern parts of Taiz and destroy their heavy weapons that arbitrarily and heavily shell the city.
Taiz, Yemen’s third largest city, have seen the bloodiest battles between government forces and Al Houthis since early 2015 when army units and local resistance fighters took up arms and fought off Al Houthis’ occupation.
Despite their shelling and relentless attacks, Al Houthis have largely failed to push into the city’s downtown which is under government’s control.
Rebels are in control of the eastern, southern and northern suburbs of the city where they block humanitarian aid from reaching the city.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Defence Ministry has said government forces, backed by coalition’s fighter jets, seized control of a number of mountainous locations in the northern province of Saada, the Al Houthis’ main bastion.
Pro-government fighters mounted a new offensive in Al Thaher district, opening up a new front inside Al Houthis’ heavily fortified stronghold.
As many as 15 Al Houthis were killed in the clashes as government forces seized control of Al Asem mountains, a small military camp and several locations in the district.
On Baqoum front, northern Saada, government forces announced controlling several hills in Aleb region.
Thanks to massive air and military logistics support from the Saudi-led coalition, government forces are gaining the upperhand in the war against Al Houthis liberating around 80 per cent of the country’s land.
