Yemeni forces capture new areas in advance on Mokha

A military source said forces will be moving towards Mokha in three different directions.

Yemeni pro-government forces patrol during clashes with Houthi rebels in western Dhubab district, about 30km north of the strategic Bab Al Mandeb Strait, on January 11, 2017, during the early stages oShow more

ADEN // Pro-government forces backed by Saudi-led air strikes advanced closer towards the Yemeni port city of Mokha on Sunday, taking over the Al Maaqer and Al Gadeeda areas along the coastal road.

The latest offensive, launched from Bab Al Mandeb eight days ago, is aimed at liberating the area along the Red Sea coast from the Houthi rebels.

Yemeni forces drove out the Houthis from the Dhubab district in the southern province of Taez on Friday, and arrived in Al Gadeeda on Sunday. Their next target will be Mokha, about 30km away, according to a source in the military council of Taez province.

"When we launched the offensive, we said that Mokha is our target, but I do not want to show the military plans that we are following ... we do not want the Houthi rebels to know about it," the source told The National on condition of anonymity.

He said the offensive was under the “direct observation” of the Emirati forces in Bab Al Mandeb, adding that “the [Saudi-led] air strikes play a main role in the coastal battles, as the Houthis cannot escape the air strikes”.

Though dozens of Houthis were killed in the battle on Sunday, the Shiite rebels were still sending new fighters from Al Hodeida province to fight in the coastal battle, according to the source.

He said forces will move towards Mokha in three directions, but would not say which directions due to security reasons.

“The Houthis are following media and they read our statements and try to be cautious, so we would rather not show everything. But I confirm that there will be good news during the next days.”

Meanwhile across the border in Saudi Arabia, cross-border shelling from Yemen killed a Saudi soldier, the interior ministry said on Sunday.

A border guards post in the Najran region came under attack from “intensive shelling” on Saturday, killing a corporal, the ministry said.

* With additional reporting from Agence France-Presse