Fighting has intensified between the Yemeni army and the Houthi group in Marib Governorate, following the group's launch of a military campaign to seize the governorate's center, the city of Marib, which holds significant political, military, and economic importance in the conflict in Yemen. It houses the Ministry of Defense and the leadership of the Yemeni army, in addition to the Safir oil fields and refinery.
The Yemeni Ministry of Defense's official website reported today that "battles escalated this morning between army forces and the Houthis on the fronts of Al-Makhdara and Mihzam Mas in northwestern Marib," confirming "the death of no less than 30 Houthi members due to the fierce battles." It indicated "the destruction of several Houthi military vehicles in an army artillery strike targeting their positions and reinforcements heading to the Al-Makhdara and Mihzam Mas fronts in northwestern Marib." Earlier today, the Yemeni army announced the killing of 34 Houthi members and injuries to dozens during battles across various fronts in the Sarwah district, west of Marib, noting that 20 other members of the group were killed and wounded in an artillery strike that targeted them on the Haylan front in the same district.
Lieutenant General Nasser Al-Dhibani, head of operations in the Yemeni army, confirmed through the Ministry of Defense's website that "the army and the popular resistance (a tribal entity loyal to the army), with the support of the Arab coalition, have repelled all attacks launched by the Houthi group over the past 20 days in various fronts of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh military zones," referring to the battle fronts in the Marib, Al-Jawf, Taiz, Al-Dhali, and Hajjah governorates.
Al-Dhibani stated, "The battle with the Houthis is proceeding according to the plan laid out by the Ministry of Defense and the high command of the armed forces," adding that "the enemy (referring to the Houthis) is collapsing, and victory will be with the Yemeni republican people and its armed forces."
On Thursday, government forces seized positions in the village of Al-Zour and the Black Hills surrounding it, east of the Sarwah district, during clashes with the Houthis that resulted in 27 deaths and dozens of injuries on both sides. Conversely, the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV reported that the Arab coalition's aircraft launched 21 airstrikes on Marib Governorate today, focusing 19 strikes on the Sarwah district in western Marib, while two strikes targeted the Mahliyah district in the southern part of the oil-rich governorate.
