Riyadh
The Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s government said on Thursday it had killed 95 Houthi rebels in air strikes near the strategic city of Marib, as fighting pushes more people into displacement.
That would bring to around 2,000 the number of Houthis the coalition says it has killed around Marib in strikes it has reported almost daily since October 11.
A statement said the coalition carried out 22 operations targeting rebels in two districts near Marib that “killed 95 terrorists and damaged 11 military vehicles”.
The latest bombing was carried out in Al-Jawba, about 50 kilometres south of Marib, and Al-Kassara, 30 kilometres to the northwest.
Marib, capital of the oil-rich province of the same name, is the internationally recognised government’s last bastion in northern Yemen.
The Houthis have claimed to be tightening their grip around Marib city.
“Our forces have reached the vicinity of the city of Marib, which is nearly surrounded,” said Mohammed Nasser Al-Atefi, who serves as defence minister in the Houthis’ unrecognised government in Sanaa, west of Marib, according to the Al-Akhbar Lebanese daily.—AFP
