Arab Coalition, Yemeni allies ready to liberate Taiz

Arab Coalition forces and their Yemeni allies have completed preparations to launch a final offensive against the Houthis to seize the southwestern town of Taiz, a Yemen government spokesman was quoted on Monday as saying.

“The operation to liberate Taiz will be launched within the next hours,” Rajih Badi said, quoted by the Saudi satellite TV news channel Alarabiya.

He said a large force has come from Aden to join coalition troops and Yemeni national army and resistance in the offensive, adding that more troops would come.

He said the coalition and their allies would take advantage of deep differences between the Houthis and forces loyal to deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

“There are deep rifts between the coup militias. This is quite evident in their contradicting statements,” he said.

In a related development, Yemen’s Masdar Online news network quoted military sources as saying the resistance in Taiz has taken delivery of armoured vehicles and other defense equipment supplied by the Saudi-led coalition.

It said the supplies are intended to bolster the resistance’s capability ahead of the offensive to eject the coup insurgents from all Taiz areas.

“These supplies are part of the coalition’s operation to bolster the Yemeni army and resistance.

“They came after the coalition jets dropped weapons twice to the resistance in Taiz last week,” a source said.

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