Yemen forces launch offensive against Houthis

SANAA: Yemen's army backed by the Saudi-led coalition forces has begun a large-scale offensive in Abs district, Hajjah province, against the Houthi rebels.

The offensive comes after years of a political and military stalemate during the six years of deadly civil war, Xinhua news agency reported.

Houthi fighters responded with heavy gunfire and artillery shelling from sandy hills and green farms, showing fierce resistance.

Abs is a few miles away north of the strategic Red Sea province of Hodeidah, which is also under Houthi control.

The civil war erupted in late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, displaced nearly 4 million, and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Losing Abs would be a major blow to the Houthi rebels.

"The enemy (Houthi) was preparing to attack the army's positions in the area, but the soldiers were on the lookout," Taha al-Omari, commander of the 105th Brigade of the Fifth Military Region, told Xinhua on Sunday.

"Today, the Fifth Military Region, with its all units, carried out a large offensive, recapturing more than 10 villages in Abs and cutting off roads and backup lines of the enemy between this southern frontline and the northern and western frontlines of Abs, as well as cutting off the road linking Mustaba district with Bani Hassan area in Abs to isolate the enemy," he said. (IANS)

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