Yemeni troops backed by the Arab Coalition have launched a military operation to capture Marran district of Saada province, where their leader Abdulmalik Al Houthi is believed to be in hiding.
A large number of troops stormed Marran on four fronts on Wednesday and captured several strategic sites after fierce battles, a military source in Saada told The National.
Abdulmalik Al Houthi is widely believed to be hiding in a cave in the mountainous district. A photo of him surrounded by guards in what appears to be Marran was widely circulated on Yemeni news sites last month. The district is the leader's birthplace and where the Houthi movement originated.
Much of the modern weaponry the rebels looted from army bases after their uprising is also believed to be stored in Marran.
The military source said the operation in Marran aims to "cut the snake's head" in the stronghold of the Houthis. Yemeni forces have already seized other areas of Saada such as Bakem, Al Malaheedh and Al Buka in recent months.
The latest offensive comes before a new UN-mediated attempt to find a political solution to Yemen's civil war, which began when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. The Iran-backed rebels and the internationally recognised government of President Abdradu Mansur Hadi have agreed to attend the talks beginning in Geneva next month.
Meanwhile, residents of Al Tuhaiyta district in Hodeidah province said they were facing food shortages and high prices because of a siege imposed by the rebels after they were driven out of the area last month by government and coalition forces.
The rebels have blocked most of the main roads into the densely populated district, mined the smaller roads and posted snipers in the countryside around Al Tuhaiyta city, said Sameer Akhdhar, a resident.
"We are living very hard times in Al Tuhaiyta. We can't go to the public markets in neighbouring areas because we have only one route which is secured by the joint forces, which is to the north of the district," Mr Akhdhar told The National.
"Everything is expensive, the prices have been increased sharply, the food supplies are very low, and we struggle for days to get a few kilos of rice or flour," he said.
"The joint forces liberated large areas of the district and drove the Houthis into the surrounding areas, so they have been imposing strict siege around the district and cut all the roads that link Al Tuhaiyta with Zabeed and Al Suwaik, where residents go to shop for their basic needs at the public markets," said Sami Bari, an activist who provides updates on the situation on the ground in Hodeidah, including on social media.
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Read more:
UK foreign secretary backs Saudi ties before US talks
Aden port officials foil attempt to smuggle Yemeni antiques
Yemen rebels attacked UN food store near Hodeidah, says minister
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Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Pathaan
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Company%20Profile
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The%20specs
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Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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