MAJOR ADVANCE BY YEMEN ARMY

Military source says push is under direct observation of UAE

Saudi-led coalition air strikes help pro-government forces to retake two coastal areas,

ADEN // Pro-government forces backed by Saudi-led air strikes advanced closer towards the Yemeni port city of Mokha yesterday.

The troops took over the Al Maaqer and Al Gadeeda areas along the coastal road.

The latest offensive, launched from Bab Al Mandeb eight days ago, is aimed at liberating the coastal areas from the Houthi rebels.

Yemeni forces drove out the Houthis from the Dhubab district in the southern province of Taez on Friday, and arrived in Al Gadeeda yesterday.

Their next target will be Mokha, about 30 kilometres away, said a source in the military council of Taez.

“When we launched the offensive we said that Mokha is our target, but I do not want to show the military plans that we are following,” the source said.

“We do not want the Houthi rebels to know about it.”

He said the offensive came under the “direct observation” of the Emirati forces in Bab Al Mandeb, adding that “the air strikes play a main role in the coastal battles, as the Houthis cannot escape them”.

Although dozens of Houthis were killed in the battle yesterday, the Shiite rebels were still sending new fighters from Al Hodeida province to the coastal battle, the source said.

He said forces would move towards Mokha in three directions, but would not say which.

“The Houthis are following media and they read our statements and try to be cautious, so we would rather not show everything.

“But I confirm that there will be good news during the next days.”

Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, cross- border shelling from Yemen killed a Saudi soldier, the interior ministry said yesterday.

A border guard post in the Najran region came under attack from “intensive shelling” on Saturday, killing a corporal, the ministry said.