Yemeni jets hit Sanaa; 20 rebels killed

Yemeni legitimate air force which has been rehabilitated with UAE help attacked rebel targets in the capital Sanaa on Friday for the first time since the Iranian-backed insurgents mounted a coup against the legitimate government.

The UAE daily ‘Al Bayan’, quoting military sources in the conflict-battered Arab country, said jets flown by Yemeni air force pilots from the country’s largest air base in Al Anad launched strikes against several positions of the Houthis and their rebels in Sanaa and in Ibb and Al Badya south of the capital.

“It is a very important development. It was the first time that the Yemeni legitimate air forces attacked Sanaa since the eruption of the war in Yemen.

“The raids followed the rehabilitation of Yemen’s air force and Al Anad base with the UAE supervision,” the Dubai-based paper said, quoting a military source.

In besieged Taiz, 20 rebels were killed during battles with the legitimate army and national resistance fighters and in coalition air attacks on the city.

‘Al Bayan’ said heavy fighting was taking place in Taiz as the allies intensify their attacks as part of a strategy to seize the entire Southeastern governorate.

It said resistance fighters also repulsed a surprise assault by the Houthis and their allies, adding that a large number of the rebels were killed. It said 22 Houthis, including a field commander, were also captured when they tried to infiltrate into the town of Wadi Damat in that area.

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