Arab Coalition Destroys Houthi Defense System, Strikes Militia Training Camps

Arab World

March 22nd, 6:43am

Aden – Ali Rabih

Forces loyal to Yemen's government get into position during clashes with Houthi militants in Yemen's northeastern province of Marib on March 4, 2021. (AFP)

The Saudi-led Arab coalition announced on Sunday that it has destroyed an air defense system belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen’s northeastern province of Marib. The system was being operated by foreign “experts”, all of whom were also killed in the strike. The coalition carried out a number of strikes targeting Houthi training camps in Sanaa, Amran and Hodeidah, said Yemeni military sources. It destroyed workshops where the Houthis booby-trap vessels in al-Salif in the coastal province of Hodeidah. On the field, the Yemeni army continued its advance on the Marib and Taiz fronts as the militias persisted on attacking civilians. The coalition stressed on Sunday that it will continue to support the military and tribal operations in Marib. It also underscored the effectiveness of its strikes against the Houthis. It stressed that all of its operations are in line with international humanitarian law. On the Marib front, Yemen military media said the army and popular resistance liberated important locations in al-Kasara and Mashja after launching a fierce attack against the Houthis. In Taiz, the army said it completely liberated on Sunday the al-Ahkoum region and made advances on other fronts in wake of intense battles with the Houthis, who incurred severe losses. Elsewhere in Taiz, the Houthis shelled the Faculty of Arts building at Taiz University, killing one and injuring five civilians. Witnesses said a motorcyclist was killed when a Houthi shell landed in front of the faculty gate. Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani condemned the shelling, saying: “It is an extension of the Houthis’ deliberate attacks against civilians in order to seek revenge against Taiz, whose people have persevered against the unjust siege and systematic starvation imposed by the Houthis for six years amid shameful international silence.” He called on the international community, United Nations and its envoy Martin Griffiths to condemn “this crime and all other deliberate ones committed by the Houthis against civilians in violation of international laws and treaties.” He slammed their attacks as war crimes, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice before the International Criminal Court.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2874026/arab-coalition-destroys-houthi-defense-system-strikes-militia-training-camps