Offensive to seize Taiz launched

Arab coalition forces backed by the national Yemeni army and resistance fighters on Monday launched the long-awaited offensive to seize Taiz and end the siege by the Iranian-backed coup insurgents, a Yemeni general said.

Heavy fighting erupted on all fronts in the southwestern Taiz governorate on Monday as the army and resistance attacked Houthi positions while coalition warplanes intensified strikes against rebel positions in the area.

“A military operation was launched today in cooperation with the Arab coalition to take full control of Taiz and end the siege by the Houthis and their allies,” said Major General Ahmed Al Yafei, commander of the 4th Military Region in Yemen.

“This operation is intended mainly to break the siege on Taiz and liberate the entire governorate to pave the way to advance towards Sanaa.”

Quoted by Sky News Arab TV channel, he said the operation was launched on three fronts and it involved national army units and resistance fighters backed by coalition jets, which the channel said were launching ‘intensive’ raids on rebel targets.

Yemen’s press quoted army spokesman Brigadier Samir Al Haj as saying the ‘battle for the liberation of Taiz’ started on Monday but added he did not know when it would end.

“The operation may take time…the battle today was generally in favour of the army and the resistance…what is happening on the ground is so far good and we believe that the coalition’s role in this battle is crucial,” he said.

He said the Saudi-dominated coalition is backing the army and resistance with air raids and with scores of armoured vehicles sent to the army over the past weeks.

 

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