Yemeni loyalist fighters make first advance into Sanaa province

Popular resistance fighters loyal to Yemeni president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi fire as they hold a position in the area of Sirwah, west of Marib city. Abdullah Al Qadry/AFP Photo

ADEN // Pro-government forces made their first advance into Sanaa province on Saturday as fighting with Houthi rebels continued despite a ceasefire declared to coincide with peace talks being held in Switzerland.

The Yemeni military together with resistance and tribal fighters pursued the Houthi rebels into the Nihm district of Sanaa as they withdrew from Marib province, said Mohammed Al Gadasi, a journalist based in Marib province.

“The clashes between the Houthi rebels and pro-government forces are ongoing right now in the Al Qarood area of Nihm district,” Al Gadasi said. “There are casualties from both sides in the battle but there are no figures so far.”

Al Gadasi said Sheik Khalid Al Aqra, a local tribal leader, was leading the battle against the Houthis in Nihm, while the resistance fighters were from different provinces.

“Some of the Houthi fighters are from Marib and there are negotiations with some of them to join the pro-government forces or face punishment,” Al Gadasi added.

"Right now we are fighting in Sanaa to protect the achievements of the forces in Marib and Al Jawf, then we will go towards the capital," Brigadier General Murad Turaiq, leader of military forces in Marib and Al Bayda provinces, told The National.

The roughly 40 kilometres separating Nihm from Sanaa city, the country’s capital, is mostly rugged mountainous terrain.

The pro-government forces’ advance towards Sanaa came after they liberated Al Hazm, the capital of Al Jawf province, on Friday and took over Mas military camp in Marib and many areas around the camp on Thursday.

The loyalists extended their gains in Al Jawf on Saturday, capturing Al Maton district and advancing on Al Ghayl district, according to sources in the pro-government Popular Resistance militia. Fighting in Al Gahyl – a Houthi stronghold – was still ongoing.

Meanwhile sources close to the talks in Biel, Switzerland, said the negotiators agreed on Saturday to form a committee to oversee the fragile ceasefire. They said the committee would be headed by a Lebanese general and consist of representatives from Yemen president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi’s government and the Houthis, who are backed by Iran.

Mr Hadi’s government and the Saudi-led coalition seeking to restore his government to power in Sanaa had declared a ceasefire from Tuesday, when the UN-brokered peace talks began. However, rebel forces continued to attack loyalist and civilian targets, provoking a response.

Continued Houthi shelling in Taez city killed three civilians and injured 16 others on Saturday. Four resistance fighters were also killed in the shelling, according to Fareed Al Homaid, a journalist based in Taez city.

Al Homaid said the rebel forces had not yet allowed humanitarian aid into the besieged city, despite promises to do so by their representatives in Switzerland.

Heavy fighting was also reported from the north-western town of Haradh, which was captured by pro-government forces on Thursday.

Tribal sources said the Houthis lost 40 men in heavy clashes near Haradh, while about 50 rebels and 40 loyalists were wounded in the fighting.

Military sources reported 28 government troops dead.

Clashes intensified early on Saturday as government forces attempted to advance towards the Red Sea port of Midi and as the rebels brought in reinforcements, they said.

* With reporting from Reuters and Agence France-Presse