ADEN // Heavy fighting has broken out on the border of Yemen’s Taez and Lahj provinces as government forces hold off an attack by Houthi rebels in two areas.
Army troops and fighters of the pro-government Southern Resistance repelled the rebel assaults in Al Wazeyah district in Taez and the Karesh area in Lahj, which began on Friday.
The attacks violate a ceasefire declared on April 11 ahead of UN-backed peace talks being held in Kuwait City.
The resistance and army have sent reinforcements to both areas while Emirati forces, part of a Saudi-led coalition supporting the government against the Iran-backed rebels, sent military equipment including armoured vehicles, a resistance leader said.
Mokhtar Al Suwaidi, who is leading the battle on the western front in Karesh, said the rebels fired Katyusha rockets at homes in the area on Friday, killing a civilian and injuring six resistance fighters.
"The Houthis tried to advance on the Karesh front but the Southern Resistance and the army confronted the attack and prevented the rebels from advancing even one metre," he told The National.
“The Emirati forces reinforced Karesh and Al Wazeyah fronts with different kinds of weapons, and there are huge military reinforcements, including fighters, being sent from Aden to the borders with Taez, especially to Al Wazeyah and Karesh, to confront any attacks by the rebels,” Mr Al Suwaidi said.
He said clashes were continuing in Karesh and Al Wazeyah on Saturday and that there had been a large number of casualties, but declined to give figures.
“The Houthis went to Karesh and Al Wazeyah fronts trying to tell the world that they can advance towards the south,” he said. “We will fight the Houthis until the last drop of blood, but we will not let them advance.”
The Houthis have been attempting to retake the southern provinces since pro-government forces backed by the coalition liberated Aden from the rebels last July, followed by Lahj and the provinces of Abyan and Dalea.
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
