Aden - Abdel Ghani Yahia
The leadership of the coalition forces in support of legitimacy in Yemen stressed targeting senior Houthi leaders during the past few days.
It said that it will reveal the details of these operations after confirming the information that it is currently gathering and said that Houthi militias are using "Sam-7" missiles.
The coalition’s leadership considered that the peace opportunity with the Ira"Sam-7" missilesnian Houthi militias is still available if they abandon the coup project and agree on a political solution based on the three references, which are the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism, the outputs of the comprehensive Yemeni national dialogue and Security Council resolution 2216.
It warned the militias from not bowing to the international will as it leads to the continuation of operations carried by coalition forces until it returns legitimacy to all the Yemeni territories.
Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki told a news conference that what happened lately, including killing former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, was as a turning point in the Yemeni conflict.
He noted that it revealed the true face of the criminal terrorist group, and the conflict has become open between the people and this group.
The Iranian Houthi militias have two options, either peace or war, Malki said, explaining that peace will take place only with the implementation of the political solution based on the three references or else war will continue.
Speaking at a news conference, Malki said the legitimate forces have knocked out a large number of military vehicles and arms depots for the Houthi militias. Moreover, they have seized weapons provided by Iran to the Houthis.
Maliki also revealed aerial photos showing a militiaman carrying a SAM-7 missile, who was targeted by Apache plane, the same plane that also targeted Houthi militia border posts.
He added that the Apache planes also destroyed military vehicles belonging to Houthis, as well as weapon depots and Houthi checkpoints.
He also said that the areas where Houthi ballistic missiles are being kept have been located and destroyed.
The coalition and Yemeni army are specifically focusing on eliminating Houthi bases near the Saudi Arabian border, he added.
Maliki also stressed the coalition’s humanitarian aid efforts through airdrops of aid in several parts of Yemen and the work of human rights organizations in Sana’a amid threats by Houthis.
The Arab Coalition has also distributed leaflets along with the Yemeni army to help those seeking safety, he said.
On the other hand, Yemen’s Chief of Staff, Major General Taher Al-Aqeeli, revealed that the Yemeni army has received European and Asian offers to provide logistical support, noting that new agreements would be signed at a later stage for the interest of the army.
“All the efforts and actions that are currently being implemented are moving towards strengthening of the army to enable it to defend the country, in line with a clear and comprehensive vision… to become a shield for the homeland and the Arab and Islamic nation,” the Yemeni military official said.
“We will work hard to dissolve the tribal authority over the army through the proper establishment of the military institution,” he added.
Al-Aqeeli underlined the role assumed by the Arab coalition in restructuring Yemen’s military institution.
“The Arab coalition forces play an important and pivotal role in all directions, whether with regards to material assistance or advice provided by the coalition leaders to the Yemeni army. We must realize that our brothers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have not only provided such assistance, but also stood with Yemen in front positions to defend the rights of the Yemeni people,” he stated.
Al-Aqeeli went on to say that the Saudi-led coalition has provided “all possible resources, and harnessed all the tools to serve and develop the army, and the results of this support can be seen on the ground.”
On the liberation of the remaining Yemeni territories, the Chief of Staff noted that the army was moving with accuracy “to reduce the war bill and to save civilian lives on all fronts.”
“Everyone must know that it is difficult to reveal everything, and the army depends on what it does, not what it says… The army will open new fronts, using conventional and traditional tactics in such confrontations, and carry out direct offensive actions,” he said.