Deadly Houthi attacks in Yemen’s Taiz as government forces advance in Marib

Government troops launch major offensives across multiple fronts, while Houthi bombardments kill civilians in southwestern Yemen. Save Share Yemeni government forces say they have made strategic advances into the Marib governorate in north-central Yemen as they push on with operation “Dawn of Yemen”. The offensive by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, launched just over a week ago, comes after major gains by the Iran-backed Houthis, an armed group also known as Ansar Allah or Supporters of God, in September, when it swept along the country’s Red Sea coast, capturing the strategic port city of Mocha and territory around the Bab al-Mandeb, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, said operation Dawn of Yemen aimed to retake all remaining Houthi-held territory, including the capital, Sanaa, which the group has controlled since 2014, when the war first started. Meanwhile, intense clashes and Houthi shelling on residential neighbourhoods in Taiz in the southwest of the country have caused dozens of civilian casualties. In the northwest of Marib governorate, a military source told Al Jazeera that government troops have successfully taken control of strategic, commanding heights surrounding the strategic Maas camp facility in the Medghal district. The source noted this followed intensive attacks that had breached the Houthi group’s fortifications. On the southern front, forces from the Saba and Bayhan axes announced the capture of the al-Muqailat and Jabal Zajjar positions north of the Harib district. Government forces claimed the fierce clashes resulted in the Houthis retreating and suffering human and material losses. This field progress coincided with continued violent battles along the front lines in the north and south of Marib. Government forces launched concentrated strikes using warplanes, drones, artillery and rocket launchers, targeting Houthi military positions and reinforcements. The armed forces’ media centre published footage it said documented drone attacks on Houthi military barracks and vehicles within the scope of the third military region’s operations, noting the destruction of multiple combat vehicles and equipment. Above: Footage from the battles within the operational theatre of the seventh military region north of Marib: Media centre of armed forces....