While cautious calm prevailed over some sites on the frontline in Taiz, the national army and the Popular Resistance continues to advance and control large areas of the western front that was formerly controlled by Houthi militias and forces loyal to the ousted president Saleh.

Whilst legitimate forces in Taiz are making advances, rebel militias are attempting to drive them away with military reinforcements in areas in west Taiz that saw violent clashes yesterday. Soldiers on both sides were killed and injured.

This fighting coincides with the arrival of the first food convoy funded by Saudi Arabia in the city of Taiz after the western Dubab front was liberated. The convoy was loaded with more than 40 tonnes of relief assistance for the people of the province.

In order to fully complete the liberation of the western front and clear it of rebel militias, national army troops and those belonging to the Popular Resistance headed for Al-Rabeei and Hudhran where there are still some rebel militias in some locations.

Military operations to takeover continue in Taiz with the support of the Saudi led Arab coalition’s aircraft, and Houthi leaders have been killed and injured. Some of them fled to the Al-Hooban area in the east which is controlled by Houthi militias.

The leader of the Popular Resistance told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “legitimate forces yesterday liberated a number of sites in the Al-Rabeei area” from the rebel militias and that the area will soon be completely cleared of them. Rebel militias are keen to protect the positions that they still control because of their strategic importance after Mount Han was liberated.