Legitimacy Forces Liberate Khokha Town of Hodeidah, Yemen

A Yemeni soldier mans a machine gun mounted on a military truck near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, Yemen January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
A Yemeni soldier mans a machine gun mounted on a military truck near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, Yemen January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
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Legitimacy Forces Liberate Khokha Town of Hodeidah, Yemen

A Yemeni soldier mans a machine gun mounted on a military truck near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, Yemen January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
A Yemeni soldier mans a machine gun mounted on a military truck near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, Yemen January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman

Yemen legitimate forces had taken full control of al-Khokha coastal city, in Hodeidah governorate, as part of a wide-range military operation launched by the forces towards the city from the southern side. This enabled the forces to take full control of the city and arrest 15 members of the Iran-backed Houthis militias.

In As-Silw axis, Yemeni legitimate forces succeeded in controlling al-Hawd area, where at least 15 Houthis were reportedly killed including Colonel Radwan Salah.

Earlier, field sources of the National Army confirmed that government forces managed to defeat Houthis on the west coast of Yemen, precisely north of Yakhtul area, and moved towards Az-Zahari area, as it advanced towards al-Khokha, south of Hodeidah.

Speaking to Asharq al-Awsat, the sources added that the legitimate forces advanced towards Harzine strategic mountain in the area of al-Hamli.

Observers believe that the death of Saleh will be a turning point against Houthis, whether in terms of pro-Saleh soldiers retreating from the fronts or joining the legitimacy in retaliation to the militia's betrayal of their leader.

In Taiz governorate, sources reported that government forces regained control over "al-Hawd, Tbab al-Safeh and al-Menya villages" north of the As-Silw directorate following fierce clashes where 11 Houthis were killed and injured.

Along with these developments, Saudi-led coalition launched a series of air strikes on militias on the outskirts of Mocha and various locations of Hajjah.

Another military source in Taiz told Asharq Al-Awsat that at least 12 insurgents were killed and 15 others injured during raids targeting militias sites in Az-Zahari and Yakhtal districts, north of Mocha coastal directorate.

Han strategic mountain witnessed several fierce clashes between insurgency and legitimacy forces during which different kinds of weapons were used, however, army troops advanced and forced the militias to retreat after several of their members were killed and injured.

"The insurgency militia continuous attack on Han Mountain is because of its great importance given that it overlooks al-Dabab crossing on the west and the road linking Taiz with Aden through At-Turba district," explained the source, adding that by controlling the mountain, the city is besieged.

Clashes in the city coincided with battles in As-Silw following an attack launched by troops of 35th armored brigade on insurgency's posts killing several of their militants, confirmed the source, who added: "forces liberated al-Hawd village as clashes continued in Tebbat al-Menya strategic town, which is partly controlled by the army."

Militias increased their violent bombardment of residential areas from the outskirts of the city. Residents in the city reported that four civilians were wounded during militants' shelling.

Sanaa resistance council called upon residents to unite and carry on the uprising waged by Yemeni people.



Israeli Troops, Palestinian Fighters Clash in West Bank after Incidents Near Settlements

Israeli troops move inside the Jenin refugee camp on the fourth day of an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 31 August 2024. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH
Israeli troops move inside the Jenin refugee camp on the fourth day of an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 31 August 2024. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH
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Israeli Troops, Palestinian Fighters Clash in West Bank after Incidents Near Settlements

Israeli troops move inside the Jenin refugee camp on the fourth day of an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 31 August 2024. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH
Israeli troops move inside the Jenin refugee camp on the fourth day of an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 31 August 2024. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH

Clashes broke out between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters in the occupied West Bank on Saturday as Israel pushed ahead with a military operation in the flashpoint city of Jenin.
Israeli troops searched areas around Jewish settlements after two separate security incidents on Friday evening. In Jenin itself, drones and helicopters circled overhead while the sound of sporadic firing could be heard in the city, said Reuters.
Hundreds of Israeli troops have been carrying out raids since Wednesday in one of their largest actions in the West Bank in months.
The operation, which Israel says was mounted to block Iranian-backed militant groups from attacking its citizens, has drawn international calls for a halt.
At least 19 Palestinians, including armed fighters and civilians, have now been killed since it began. The Israeli military said on Saturday a soldier had been killed during the fighting in the West Bank.
The Israeli forces were battling Palestinian fighters from armed factions that have long had a strong presence in Jenin and the adjoining refugee camp, a densely populated township housing families driven from their homes in the 1948 Middle East war around the creation of Israel.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Saturday a child had been taken to hospital in Jenin with a bullet wound to the head.
The escalation in hostilities in the West Bank takes place as fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas group still rages in the coastal Gaza Strip nearly 11 months since it began, and hostilities with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in the Israel-Lebanon border area have intensified.
Late on Friday, Israeli forces said two men were killed in separate incidents near Gush Etzion, a large West Bank settlement cluster located south of Jerusalem, that the military assessed were both attempted attacks on Israelis.
In the first, a car exploded at a petrol station in what the army said was an attempted car bombing attack. The military said a man was shot dead after he got out of the car and tried to attack soldiers.
In the second incident, a man was killed after the military said a car attempted to ram a security guard and infiltrate the Karmei Tzur settlement. The car was chased by security forces and crashed and an explosive device in it was detonated, the military said in a statement.
The two deaths were confirmed by Palestinian health authorities but they gave no details on how they died.
Troops combed the area following the two incidents. Security forces also carried out raids in the city of Hebron, where the two men came from.
Hamas praised what it called a "double heroic operation" in the West Bank. It said in a statement it was "a clear message that resistance will remain striking, prolonged and sustained as long as the brutal occupation's aggression and targeting of our people and land continue".
The group, however, did not claim direct responsibility for the attacks.
Israeli army chief General Herzi Halevi said on Saturday Israel would step up defensive measures as well as offensive actions like the Jenin operation.
Amid the gunfire, armored bulldozers searching for roadside bombs have ploughed up large stretches of paved roads and water pipes have been damaged, leading to flooding in some areas.
Since the Hamas attack on Israel last October that triggered the Gaza war, at least 660 Palestinian combatants and civilians have been killed in the West Bank, according to Palestinian tallies, some by Israeli troops and some by Jewish settlers who have carried out frequent attacks on Palestinian communities.
Israel says Iran provides weapons and support to militant factions in the West Bank - under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war - and the military has as a result cranked up its operations there.