The Yemeni army backed by the Arab coalition forces launched a major military operation to liberate the rest of the province of Khob and Shaf, the largest district of Al-Jouf province north of Yemen.

The army’s media center confirmed that significant progress has been made following the launch of the operation and about 17 kilometers of the remaining parts under the control of the Houthi militia in the Habib and Shuf district northeast of Al-Jouf, have been liberated, with reports coming in about heavy casualties among the militias.

A statement issued by the Yemeni army stated that the fighters of the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia, launched several air raids targeting positions and military machinery belonging to the Houthi militias.

Coalition forces destroyed three ballistic missile launchers in Al-Mutama area and six tanks and three armored carriers in Ham and Sabreen fronts, which were coming from Sa’ada governorate to Al-Jawf as reinforcements for the militias, in addition to the destruction of an arms cache.

A military source said that the fighting continues as the Yemeni army progresses under the cover of heavy protective firing by the Arab Alliance.

Dozens of militants are reported dead and wounded in the ranks of the militia, the military source said, without giving specific numbers due to the on going fighting.

The Yemeni army controls Naaman and Nat’e in Al-Bayda

At Bayda, sources told Al Arabiya earlier that the Yemeni army, which was deployed on Thursday, controlled Nayman and Nat’e.

The National Army forces continue to advance in the province of Al-Bayda, for two days, and several strategic sites in the province were restored including the most important site Al-Tha’alib.

On Monday, the Yemeni army liberated the Directorate of Mallagim, the third district directorate of Al-Bayda province, at the center of Yemen, in a large and accelerated field advance of the military operation to liberate the province amid the collapse and flight of the Houthi militias.

The Yemeni army announced the killing of 80 senior leaders of the Houthi militias in battles with the forces of the National Army and through coalition raids since the beginning of December in a number of fronts, which are witnessing continuous clashes amid major Houthi collapses.

The Yemeni army also revealed that the militias lost 300 members and field commanders in the Bihan Shabwa front, as well as reported the killing of Houthi field commanders in Al-Baydaa frontiers, Sanaa, Hajjah, Saada, Al Dalea, Hodeidah and Al Jouf.

Source english.alarabiya.net