Arab Coalition Strikes Kill 140 Houthi Militants

Arab World

December 14th, 11:48am

Aden – Ali Rabea

An officer in the Yemeni army carries his weapon on the frontlines, in the fight against the Iranian-backed Houthi militias near Marib. (AP)

The Saudi-led Arab coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen continues to support the Yemeni national army to fight the Iran-backed Houthi militias in the oil-rich Marib province. More than 140 Houthi militants were killed and 14 military vehicles got destroyed in 28 operations in Marib and al-Jawf during the past 24 hours, the coalition announced, the Saudi Press Agency. reported. Also, the Yemeni army announced the death of its commander outside the central city of Marib. Gen. Nasser al-Thaybani died while commanding government troops who were fighting off Houthi incursions into the strategic al-Balaq mountain range that overlooks part of the city, the army said. The Ministry of Defense and the Chief of Staff mourned Thaybani in a statement, noting that he “was killed while performing his national duty to defend the republican system and national gains and lead the battles to confront Houthis on the outskirts of Marib Governorate.” “Thaybani was one of the loyal leaders who sacrificed their lives and time to the homeland, and was one of the first officers to answer the call of duty and defend Yemen’s honor.” The late commander led several liberation battles in Marib, al-Jawf, al-Bayda, Sanaa and Shabwa governorates, the statement added. The ministry vowed to carry on its military operations “until the desired national goals are fully achieved and Yemen restores its sovereignty and security and defeats the schemes and ambitions of Iranian terrorism and its vengeful militias that threaten the security of Yemen and the region.” On Sunday, the Arab Coalition said it had carried out 35 operations targeting the militias in Marib, during which more than 200 militants were killed and 21 military vehicles were destroyed. “We carried out three targeted operations in the western coast to support the coastal forces and protect civilians. The western coast operations targeted two military vehicles and eliminated more than 15 terrorists,” the coalition said in a series of tweets carried out by SPA.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3358816/arab-coalition-strikes-kill-140-houthi-militants