Yemeni troops kill eight Houthis in Marib fighting, as Saudi-led airstrikes target Sanaa

Yemeni troops kill eight Houthis in Marib fighting, as Saudi-led airstrikes target Sanaa
Fierce fighting has been taking place in southern regions of Marib between the Houthi rebels - who control Yemen's capital Sanaa - and the Yemeni military - backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.
2 min read
03 January, 2022
Yemen's war erupted in 2014, when the Houthi rebels seized Sanaa and forced the government into exile in Saudi Arabia [Getty]

Yemeni troops killed eight Houthi rebels in clashes in Marib province, as the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on Al-Sawadiya camp in Al-Bayda governorate, according to multiple reports.

Fierce fighting has been taking place in southern regions of Marib between the Houthi rebels - who control Yemen's capital Sanaa - and the Yemeni military - backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.

A Houthi armoured column was heading for the Al-Kasara front, west of Marib, when it was targeted by the Yemeni military.

The Saudi-led coalition claimed on Sunday that 70 Houthi rebels were killed in airstrikes on Marib province, with six military vehicles destroyed.

The coalition launched airstrikes on Al-Sawadiya camp, Al-Bayda, on Sunday evening after giving a warning and calling for the site to be evacuated of civilians.

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The coalition - who say the strikes were "in response to threat and [...] a military necessity" - claimed the camp is used for the storage, supply, and launching of weapons.

The coalition said they would hold the Houthis responsible for the any civilians present in the camp after the warning was given.

It said "it has taken all necessary measures in accordance with international humanitarian law in the operation".

The Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV claimed the raids targeted the "customs port square" indicating the absence of a military goal.

Yemen's war - which has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis - erupted in 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa and forced the government into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition entered the conflict in March 2015, aiming to restore full power to Yemen's government.