ADEN, Yemen, May 18 (NNN-SABA) – Yemeni government forces, on Friday, announced recapturing a key southern district from the Houthi rebels, following a large-scale military operation, backed by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition.
According to a press statement released by the government forces, different military units of the local security and army forces launched a large-scale pre-dawn attack against the Houthis in Qataba district located to the northwestern part of al-Dhalea province.
The military attack sparked ferocious street battles that continued for several hours between the government forces and the Houthis in and around Qataba district.
The report said that the government forces succeeded in seizing full control over Qataba and the surrounding areas, following the large-scale anti-Houthi military campaign that left scores of rebels killed or injured.
A military source said that “government forces stormed Qataba from various directions and managed to expel the Houthis out of the strategic southern district.”
Videos released by local activists showed moments of ferocious street fighting that forced the Houthis to withdraw from Qataba district.
In one video, a group of government soldiers patrolling the main street of Qataba, while chanting victory slogans, while holding their automatic assault rifles.
Activists also shared graphic images of the fighting aftermath, showing several bodies of Houthi fighters lying in streets of Qataba.
Both warring sides continued to mobilise large numbers of fighters to the front lines in al-Dhalea amid non-stop armed confrontations taking place, since weeks ago in the government-controlled province.
Last month, scores of Houthi fighters launched a series of intense armed attacks on the positions of government forces and succeeded in seizing the district of Al Husha in the west of al-Dhalea.
The areas in the north and west of government-controlled al-Dhalea have been witnessing continuous fighting between government forces and Houthi fighters for four years.– NNN-SABA
