Saudi-backed forces loyal to Yemen’s exiled government captured more territory from Huthi rebels on Tuesday as they pressed an advance that has seen them retake large parts of the war-torn country’s south.
Aid agencies voiced alarm over the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation in the impoverished nation, devastated by months of fighting.
The gains by forces backing exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi have been aided by weapons and troops from Gulf countries, as Saudi-led coalition warplanes continue to pound rebel positions.
The “Popular Resistance Committees” – comprising pro-government fighters, Sunni tribes, and southern separatists – seized overnight the town of Utmah, about 100 kilometres south of capital Sanaa, military officials said.
The town is in the Shia majority province of Dhammar, which borders Sanaa province, where Iran-backed rebels have held the capital since September.
Meanwhile, fierce clashes between local pro-government militia and the rebels rocked Arhab, just 25 kilometres north of Sanaa, military sources said.
“Sanaa is the real target” of the advancing pro-Hadi forces, said analyst Mustafa al-Ani, from the Gulf Research Centre.
Complaining of marginalisation, the Huthis descended from their northern stronghold last year and seized Sanaa unopposed before advancing on second city Aden in March.
Pro-government troops have launched a major counter-offensive in recent weeks and recaptured four southern provinces – Abyan, Aden, Daleh, and Lahj – from rebel hands.
They took Loder, the last rebel-held town in Abyan, late on Monday, and were poised to enter the southern Shabwa province.
Loyalist forces seized six towns in the mountainous central Ibb province, where local Sunni tribes have been clashing with Huthi insurgents for months, military officials said.