Arab Coalition has intensified its raids on the border province of Saada, the stronghold of the Houthi rebels, and targeted locations of the rebels in different districts. According to a local source, the Arab coalition aircraft targeted Malaheet, Alhsamh and Tuilq areas, in the directorates of Daher and Shada.
Yemeni armed forces clashed with the Houthi militants, on Thursday morning, in spots, amid the continuous advancement of the armed forces. Saada province has been witnessing large-scale military operations, since October 2016 by the Yemeni army, with support from the coalition forces. In December 2016, Yemeni military units, led by the Fifth Brigade (border guards), backed by popular resistance and coalition forces launched an assault on Baqem district, parallel with Dhahran city in Saudi Arabia, by which the Yemeni forces managed to liberate Olab border crossing, located about 150 km away from Saada, which made all border crossings between Yemen and the Saudi Arabia under the control of the government forces.
The Yemeni army also controlled key positions in Baqia area, most notably the military airstrip, Tbab Abasah, Tbab Alkhasfah and other districts. In the first of January 2017, the Yemeni military announced that it controlled Brigade 101, located 25 km away from Baqia border crossing.
Since March 2015, the Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, has launched military operations in Yemen against the Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, in response to the request of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, to intervene militarily to restore the government's control over the country.