ADEN // Prime minister Khalid Bahah on Sunday returned to Yemen from Saudi Arabia to visit Marib province, most of which has been liberated from the Houthi rebels, with five ministers.
Mr Bahah held a meeting with officials and military leaders in Marib province, and said the ministers would remain in Marib to resume their duties.
Brig Gen Mural Turaiq said Mr Bahah told him: “Today we are in Marib and tomorrow we will be in Sanaa.”
Brig Turaiq said the visit by the prime minister encouraged forces loyal to the government battle on towards Sanaa.
“Bahah confirmed for us in the meeting that the return to Sanaa will be soon, and there are five ministers who will remain in Marib while he returns to Riyadh.”
Restoring full security to liberated provinces is a priority for the government.
“My task will be visiting the liberated provinces, while some of the ministers will stay to resume their work from Marib,” Mr Bahah said.
He said the government was willing for any peace talks with the Houthis rebels if they implemented the UN Security Council resolution calling for the rebels to leave areas they have occupied and hand over any weapons they had seized.
The visit is the first by a high-ranking Yemeni official to Marib since the Saudi-led coalition forces and the Yemeni army and resistance liberated most of its districts.
Meanwhile, members of the southern resistance and Yemeni army cleared more than 5,000 landmines on the road to Al Rahida district in Taez province, where they have also made gains against the rebels.
Four Houthis were killed and two captured in an ambush by loyalists on two rebel patrols south of Rahida.
“After five days of the battle in Karesh front, the southern resistance and the Yemeni army took over Hameem area in Al Rahida district and sat up in some mountains over Al Rahida, so they can advance easier towards Al Rahida city,” said Moa’ath Al Yaseri, a leader of the popular resistance in Taez.
And a Saudi Air Force brigadier general, who cannot be identified because of security, yesterday defended the coalition air strike campaign, saying critics “are receiving all the information from the adversary.
“We are sticking to the rules – the international rules and Geneva Convention, first, and law of conflict”.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Agence France-Presse