15 civilians killed in Yemen’s Al Jawf in huge explosion

At least  15 civilians were killed by an explosion in Yemen's northern Al-Jawf province, the Yemeni army said Thursday. The home of a local arms dealer caught fire late Wednesday in Al-Jawf's Bart al-Anan district (currently held by the Shia Houthi militia group), Yemeni army spokesman Abdullah al-Ashraf told Anadolu Agency.
The home, he said, had been used to store weapons and ammunition, which led to a massive explosion. Dozens of people sustained severe burns, which could cause the death toll to rise even further, according to the army spokesman.
Despite attempts by residents to extinguish the blaze, the flames ignited explosive materials, blowing up the home entirely and damaging several nearby structures, according to witnesses at the scene. Meanwhile, in Yemen's south-central Shabwah province, pro-government "popular resistance" forces on Thursday reportedly repelled an attack by Houthi rebels in the Asilan directorate.
According to reports, the clashes left three Houthi rebels dead, along with one "popular resistance" fighter. Yemen has remained dogged by violence since 2014, when the Houthis and their allies overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.
The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia began a devastating air campaign in Yemen aimed at rolling back Houthi gains. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 3 million Yemenis have had to flee their homes since the conflict began, while more than 20 million remain in need of humanitarian assistance.
On the other hand, Yemen’s national army warned on Wednesday against sporadic naval mines planted across the Red Sea coast. Coup militias had resorted to sea mines in order to compromise maritime security of government-controlled ports.
The army had sounded the alarm in a move to warn international vessels delivering aid to the war-torn country and advise caution against the chances of the floating mines being carried into deep waters by sea currents.
“Houthi militias have been planting mines, blowing up the coastal locations across the strategic port of Hodeidah and carrying out terrorist attacks on international shipping vessels,” Yemeni army spokesman Brigadier Abdo Majali told Asharq Al-Awsat.Saudi-led Arab Coalition leadership announced in May the Saudi Royal Navy successfully locating a number of marine mines in the Yemeni coast near the port of Midi, on the Red Sea and near Saudi waters.
Port Midi is established as vital port, as well as one of the most important arms smuggling outlets for Iran-backed Houthi militias. The Coalition leadership then revealed that specialized teams have surveyed the naval mines. It appeared that the mines were designed with rudimentary methods.
Brig. Majali pointed out that danger lies in the fact that floating mines planted by Houthi militias may drift towards international shipping lines in the Red Sea, presenting a grave threat. In case of detonation, consequences will have a disastrous magnitude for commercial ships and humanitarian aid vessels being sent to help the Yemeni people.
“Taking up terror operations, Coup militias over the past few days planted mines that hold great potential of being carried by the water current into international waters--which is a serious risk to the security and safety of navigation,” said Brig. Majali.
On that note, the Yemeni army spokesman also briefed on the qualitative progress achieved by pro-legitimacy forces in Nihm district, adjacent to the coup’s de facto capital Sana’a. Brig.Majali pointed out that pro-government forces control about 85 percent of Nihm territory, and that the operations are advancing under plans set by the General Staff in coordination with the forces of the Arab Coalition.