Aden- Yemeni Army units on Tuesday successfully retook control over rebel-held locations, confiscating arms and ammunition from coup militants. Unguided Iran-made ‘Zelzal’, Arabic for earthquake, rockets were retrieved from insurgency militias in Sana’a’s eastern Nihim district.
“National army forces, backed by popular resistance units, continue fighting the liberation battle in eastern Sana’a— militia artillery is being seized along advances,” pro-government Popular Resistance spokesman Abdullah Alshandqi told Asharq Al-Awsat in a statement.
“A number of ‘Zelzal’ artillery rockets ,a missile Launchpad, M2 Machine Guns, a BMP-3 tank, three ammunition warehouses, 10 RPG-7 anti-tank propeller were found and seized,” said Alshandaqi.
The spokesman added that a track loader, ready to plough out routes was also taken from militia hold.
“All found artillery was left behind by Houthis militia when fleeing the fight against National Army forces backed by the Arab Coalition airpower,» Alshandqi added. He stressed that pro-government forces have made sweeping advances “in light of the utter collapse among militia ranks.”
Security in Yemen has deteriorated since March 2015, when war broke out between the Shi’ite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and government forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.
On the other hand, a Houthi top figure was assassinated by masked gunmen in Sana’a. The killed coup official is claimed to have been responsible for counseling and education, Abdullah Alwazir.
”Abdullah Alwazir, who owns a Shi’ite publication, was killed along with four of his attaches– the incident is reminiscent of assassinations staged against Houthi leaders some two years ago,” witnesses said.
“Even then, the Houthi movement, coup leaders and insurgents, who control the capital Sana’a gave no details or clarifications on the circumstances surrounding the assassinations,” they added.
Sources close to the matter told Asharq Al-Awsat that the insurgency-held Sana’a has been overrun by assassinations that seem to be the squaring of internal disputes. More so, citizens held in insurgency areas complain that major corruption has been reeking over putschist leaderships.