Screen grab from combat footage released by the Houthis.
Nearly 80 Houthi and Saudi-backed fighters have been reportedly killed as fighting in the central Yemen province of Ma’rib intensifies.
Sources in Saudi-backed forces told the France-Press Agency (AFP) that the Houthis (Ansar Allah) had renewed their attack on Ma’rib city. According to the sources, the Yemeni group launched simultaneous attacks in the late hours of September 7. The attacks lasted until September 8 morning.
“Sixty Houthi rebels were killed most of them in airstrikes conducted in the last 24 hours — while 18 pro-government troops were killed and dozens injured in clashes over the past 48 hours,” a source in the Saudi-backed wing of the Yemeni military told the AFP on September 8.
Saudi-backed forces repelled all the attacks. Most of the Houthis’ losses were reportedly caused by Saudi-led coalition airstrikes.
The Houthis have been leading a large-scale offensive to capture Ma’rib city for well over six months now. Several local tribes are backing the offensive.
The Yemeni group claims that elements from ISIS and al-Qaeda are fighting side by side with Saudi-backed forces in Ma’rib. The group also claims that the US has been supporting Saudi-backed forces. At least three US drones were shot down over the province in the last few months.
Thousands of Houthi and Saudi-backed fighter have been killed since the beginning of the battle in Ma’rib. The battle will not likely end anytime soon. The Houthis and their allies have been advancing towards the city and nearby oil fields slowly, but surely.
