Houthi militias failed to launch a ballistic missile towards Saudi Arabia from Hajjah in Yemen, an Al Arabiya correspondent reported on Tuesday. Sources said the missile most likelt fell in international waters in the Red Sea. The Patriot Missile Defense System of the Arab coalition in Yemen also intercepted a ballistic missile in Ma’rib which Houthi militias and forces loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh launched towards the city.
Local sources said the missile was destroyed above an empty area and did not cause any damage. On Monday night, the coalition’s warships shelled a camp that militias control in the district of Bajil in Hodeidah. In the early hours of Tuesday, battles renewed in al-Maslub front, west of al-Jawf governorate after cautious calm prevailed for few days.
A Popular Resistance source said violent clashes erupted between national army forces and the resistance on one hand and Houthi militias and forces loyal to ousted president Saleh on another in the areas of Waqz and Gharafa in al-Maslub district and in the areas of Ham and Mazwya in the neighboring district of al-Matoun.
The military command tasked with restoring Taiz into full government control in Yemen launched a large-scale operation west of the city on Monday morning, aiming to complete the liberation of its western areas. Several pro-government brigades and military police joined the Taiz operation, which is receiving aerial coverage by the Arab coalition. Most of these forces aided in targeting remaining militia positions.
A local military source, who spoke under anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the operation made great progress. The army has managed to liberate a number of positions that were under putschist control. Clashes left dozens dead and wounded among militia ranks, in addition to significant material losses.
“The army completed the security clearance of al-Qadra, Hamli and Madarat areas, and west of Taiz— freeing them from militias hold,” the military source added. “Ultimately, the goal is to control vital sites, securing the strategic ‘60’s’ route, which links Taiz to Ibb province, Sana’a and the northern provinces,” the source said.
Further explaining the importance of the land passage, the source stated that it is a key supply route for armed coupists and plays a role in aiding advances from the west coast. As fighting intensified, locals reported that Taiz’s factory had been evacuated from its workers and guards.
Responding to the advance of the national army on the western front, Iran-aligned militias amped violent artillery bombardment of eastern and southern countryside neighborhoods. In Taiz’s western region, government forces, backed by Arab Coalition air fighters, continued their push to control Mokha.
In this context, the military source pointed out that “militiamen shelled the area of Madarat in a failed attempt to impede the progress of the national army.” The army troops bypassed coup barracks and strongholds, despite the fire exchange.
Houthi leader Hussain Rajih and a number of his companions were killed just off Najran, in the Sa’ada governorate, by coalition air strikes that coincided with an ambush. Government forces successfully destroyed an insurgency arms depot, southwest of the capital Sana’a.