Coalition jets in surprise raids on rebels in Damt

Arab coalition warplanes launched surprise attacks on positions held by the Houthis and their allies in the Southwestern town of Damt to ease pressure on the national resistance, a Yemeni news network reported on Sunday.

The raid on Saturday “took the insurgent by surprise” as it killed many of them and destroyed a number of their tanks and heavy guns, Marib Press said.

“The attacks caused heavy losses among the rebels…they targeted their artillery and Katuysha rocket positions in the city,” the report said, quoting military sources.

It said the strikes were intended to ease pressure on the national army and resistance following heavy clashes in the area over the past two days. The report said 16 coup insurgents were killed in clashes with the resistance on Friday night.

“The resistance continues to confront attempts by the rebels to sneak into some areas while its artillery shelled their positions to neutralize the rebel artillery that was randomly shelling residential areas in Damt,” the network said.

In an earlier report, Marib Press said the national army and resistance fighters killed 107 rebels from the Houthis and their allies in two days of fighting after the insurgents launched two offensives to seize Damt.