Arab Coalition pushes against Houthis in Yemen’s Marib and Shabwa

The Arab Coalition fighting in Yemen has retaken several areas in the energy-producing provinces of Marib and Shabwa to repel advances by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in fierce fighting that has stymied United Nations-led peace efforts.

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Battles have intensified since the start of the year after the coalition sent reinforcements to Shabwa, where inroads by the Houthis had cut off access to the internationally-recognized government’s last northern stronghold in Marib.

Marib, in central Yemen, has for over a year been the focus of the seven-year war. The government holds the province’s main city and nearby oil and gas infrastructure.

Pro-coalition Yemeni forces, including the Giants Brigade, restored control on parts of Assilan in Shabwa and are pushing towards Bayhan. Dozens have been killed on both sides in the past week’s fighting, two military sources told Reuters.

Pro-government fighters have also retaken some areas on the southern and western outskirts of Marib city, three other military and tribal sources said.

Marib city is home to three million people, including nearly 1 million who fled other parts of Yemen after the Houthis ousted the government from the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014, prompting the coalition to intervene months later.

Coalition warplanes have carried out intense air strikes in Yemen, including on Houthi military targets in the capital Sanaa. The group meanwhile has kept up cross-border drone and missile attacks on Saudi cities.

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