Arab Coalition kills 18 Houthi militants in Yemen’s Jawf and Taiz

The Yemeni National Army announced on Sunday the death of a Houthi commander in the Taiz province south of Sana’a. The 35th Armored Battalion tweeted that “Houthi commander Major Hamid al-Mudai was shot dead by the 35 Armored Battalion in the Salu district southeast of Taiz.”

Arab coalition fighters targeted military reinforcements belonging to the Houthi militia on their way to the coastal front, while 18 Houthi and Saleh militants were killed and eight wounded in a raid by the Arab coalition fighters in al-Hamili front, west Taiz Governorate, according to a military source.

Two members of the militia were killed and others were injured in an attack by the National Army on coupist sites south of Taiz. Meanwhile, a field commander in the ranks of Houthi-Saleh militia was killed on Saturday in an ambush carried out by the Popular Resistance fighters in al-Soma’ah district of al-Bayda province.

The Resistance confirmed that militia supervisor, Abu Abed, was killed in the attack in al-Hazimieh. Abu Abed was appointed by militia rebels instead of Abu Serag, the previous supervisor, who was killed too in the same district.

In addition, the Yemeni army announced Sunday that it has achieved significant progress in its battles against Houthi and Saleh militias in Khabb and al-Sha'af district north of the Yemeni province of al-Jawf. Following the ongoing clashes since last Friday, Commander of the Sixth Military Region Colonel Mohammed Saleh Rasia said that the army forces of the First Brigade border guards were able to clear the camp of Ghreemil and areas of Ajashr and Ramle north of the directorate.

On the other hand, The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said on Monday that it will begin to reopen airports and seaports under the control of the legitimate government.

“Steps are being taken by the Coalition in full consultation and agreement with the Government of Yemen, to start the process of reopening airports and seaports in Yemen to allow for the safe transfer of humanitarian and commercial cargo,” it said in a statement.

"The first step in this process will be taken within the next 24 hours and involves reopening all the ports in areas controlled by the Government of Yemen, including Aden, Mukalla, and Mocha,” the statement said. Last week, the coalition closed the country's air, sea and land borders, blaming Iran for the Houthi-fired ballistic missile on Riyadh and warning it could be "considered as an act of war."

It said the closures would be temporary and take into account the work of humanitarian and aid organizations. Saudi Arabia has said it shot down the missile that was intended to target Riyadh, with fragments landing in an uninhabited area north of the capital near the international airport. 

Regarding other ports that fall under the control of Houthis, including Hodeidah, the coalition asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday to send a delegation to Riyadh to "review current inspection measures to reinforce and introduce a more effective inspection and verification regime (UNVIM) aimed at facilitating the flow of humanitarian and commercial supplies and prevent smuggling of weapons, ammunition and missile parts, and cash that are regularly being supplied by Iran and Iranian accomplices." 

Such smuggling is “in direct violation of Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2231,” the statement said. It added that “the Coalition will not cease its efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people