ABU DHABI, ADEN, May 4, 2018 - The UAE's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anwar al-Gargash, said on Friday that the Houthi militia are in their weakest state politically and militarily. Making his statement via his personal Twitter handle, the minister continued saying that "this is the time to fully concentrate on defeating the rebellion that turned Yemen into hell." "This is the time to reject dispersions and set aside differences," he added. The Yemeni army said on Thursday that they have liberated several new strategic sites in the country west of Taiz. This operation is one of many seeking to rid the city of Taiz from Houthi militia control. The Yemeni Republican Guard took part in the operation and was led by Brigadier Tariq Mohammed Saleh. The Yemeni giant's brigade also took part in the operation. Meanwhile, the national army provided air support to the guard. Saleh is the son of the late Yemeni president's brother. Sources on the field said that the Yemeni forces liberated the strategic areas after a fierce battles with the Houthi militia. The sources also said that sites oversees al-Barah area triangle. The militia sustained numerous causalities during the confrontations, they added. The Saada border witnessed during the past hours violent confrontations during which Yemen's National Army supported by the Arab coalition air raids liberated several areas and heights and progressed towards the center of the Directorate. A military source said the forces were able to regain control of the valley of Shu'ayb, Jabal Al-Azhar, and areas of Arib, and Azdn west of the Directorate of Razih. The Arab Coalition launched several raids on the positions and fortifications of the coup militias in Ghammar area as well as mobile targets in the neighboring Minabah district. Brigadier General Dhiyab al-Qabli, commander of the 143rd Brigade, said that the national army was approaching the stronghold of the rebel militias in the caves of Maran, adding that it was continuing to advance to liberate large areas north and west of Saada province. He added: "The national army is only a few kilometers away from the caves of Maran and continues to tighten the grip on the militia on several fronts, especially north-west of Saada province where the military operations continue."
