Daily Times

The Saudi-led military coalition backing the government in Yemen said Monday it had killed 105 Houthi rebels in air strikes near the strategic city of Marib. The deaths are the latest among roughly 1,700 rebels the coalition claims it has killed in strikes over the past two weeks around Marib, the internationally recognised government’s last bastion in oil-rich northern Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthi s rarely comment on losses, and AFP could not independently verify the toll. “Thirteen military vehicles were destroyed and 105” insurgents were killed in strikes in the past 24 hours, the coalition said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The strikes were carried out in Al-Jawba, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Marib, and Al-Kassara, 30 kilometres to the northwest. The coalition has reported heavy strikes around Marib in recent weeks. In February, the Houthi s began a major push to seize Marib — the internationally recognised government’s last bastion in oil-rich northern Yemen. They have renewed their offensive since September after a lull.