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Yemeni forces capture Houthi artillery near Nahm
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Riyadh- At the time when news said former commander of al-Anad Air Base defected from putschists and arrived along with a group of soldiers to Ma’rib Province, the national army revealed Tuesday it has controlled more than 15 rockets and many medium and heavy weapons after Houthi and Saleh rebels fled Nahm front, east of Sanaa.“There are intensive talks with sheikhs and elders in tribes surrounding Sanaa as they expressed their willingness to join the legitimate forces and support operations carried out by national resistance army,” according to what a senior military official in Yemeni army. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the coming 24 hours could be crucial, especially in Nahm front. For his part, Chief of Moral Guidance in the Yemeni army Major General Mohsen Khasroof confirmed that 90 percent of Houthi captives are children aging between 11 and 13. Khasroof said that in the past two days a number of areas in Nahm front fell under the control of the army, including a strategic hill. He added that the national army was able to defeat Houthis there and take over a great number of weapons and equipment. The Major General noted that dozens were killed from Houthi militias before they fled in panic. He revealed that intensive calls are being taken with tribes surrounding Sana’a to coordinate with them. He pointed out that the victory is very close as tribes surrounding Sana’a have started joining the legitimacy forces to support them in defeating Houthis. More: Aden- Yemeni Army units on Tuesday successfully retook control over rebel-held locations, confiscating arms and ammunition from coup militants. Unguided Iran-made ‘Zelzal’, Arabic for earthquake, rockets were retrieved from insurgency militias in Sana’a’s eastern Nihim district. “National army forces, backed by popular resistance units, continue fighting the liberation battle in eastern Sana’a— militia artillery is being seized along advances,” pro-government Popular Resistance spokesman Abdullah Alshandqi told Asharq Al-Awsat in a statement. “A number of ‘Zelzal’ artillery rockets ,a missile Launchpad, M2 Machine Guns, a BMP-3 tank, three ammunition warehouses, 10 RPG-7 anti-tank propeller were found and seized,” said Alshandaqi. The spokesman added that a track loader, ready to plough out routes was also taken from militia hold. “All found artillery was left behind by Houthis militia when fleeing the fight against National Army forces backed by the Arab Coalition airpower,» Alshandqi added. He stressed that pro-government forces have made sweeping advances “in light of the utter collapse among militia ranks.” Security in Yemen has deteriorated since March 2015, when war broke out between the Shi’ite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and government forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition. On the other hand, a Houthi top figure was assassinated by masked gunmen in Sana’a. The killed coup official is claimed to have been responsible for counseling and education, Abdullah Alwazir. ”Abdullah Alwazir, who owns a Shi’ite publication, was killed along with four of his attaches– the incident is reminiscent of assassinations staged against Houthi leaders some two years ago,” witnesses said. “Even then, the Houthi movement, coup leaders and insurgents, who control the capital Sana’a gave no details or clarifications on the circumstances surrounding the assassinations,” they added. Sources close to the matter told Asharq Al-Awsat that the insurgency-held Sana’a has been overrun by assassinations that seem to be the squaring of internal disputes. More so, citizens held in insurgency areas complain that major corruption has been reeking over putschist leaderships. Posted by: badanov 2017-01-19 |
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