Yemeni National Army Seizes Khawkhah, Militias Recruit Reinforcements in Sana’a

A Houthi militiaman at a checkpoint in Sanaa (Reuters)
A Houthi militiaman at a checkpoint in Sanaa (Reuters)
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Yemeni National Army Seizes Khawkhah, Militias Recruit Reinforcements in Sana’a

A Houthi militiaman at a checkpoint in Sanaa (Reuters)
A Houthi militiaman at a checkpoint in Sanaa (Reuters)

Yemeni government forces have confirmed the seizure of Al Khawkhah, in Hodeida, and regaining the control over Abu Musa Ashaari camp, following conflicts with Houthis.

The Yemeni National Army, supported by the Saudi-led Coalition, achieved a strategic victory in the western coastal front in its launched operation to restore Hodeida and its port from insurgent Houthis -- the operation falls under the legit government comprehensive battle to liberate Yemen from the Iran-allied groups.

Official Yemeni military spokesman Abdo Majali stated to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the legit forces, backed with the Saudi-led Coalition air-cover, accomplished decisive and significant victories in liberating Khawkhah, after al-Jahili, al-Ruwais and Moushej during the past days.

The seizure of Khawkhah, which entails Abu Musa Ashaari camp that can assimilate more than 40,000 fighters, paves the safe road towards Hodeida, according to military sources.

“The Yemeni National Army is rapidly advancing after fringing the Iranian militias that fled due to the army strikes and the coalition airstrikes on Hays and al-Jarahi. The operation will continue until fully liberating Hodeida and its strategic port,” declared Majali.

Yemeni news agency SABA reported that Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi carried out a phone call with Commander of Khawkhah Ahmed al-Kawkabani to be briefed on the updates and general condition in the battle field. Yemeni President commended efforts of soldiers and officers who are conducting a battle of dignity, backed by the Saudi-led Coalition.

In the same context, official in Houthis militia Radwan Salah along with four of his companions were reported killed, according to army sources in Taiz.

The legit government and pro-forces seek to expand the scope of military operations against Houthis, exploiting the rage against the militia after it turned against its ally former president Ali Saleh and executed him with dozens of officials from his party and from the Yemeni Republican Guard.

Eye witnesses reported that Houthis moved on with their military reinforcements in Sana’a, due to concerns from the rage following the death of Saleh along with other executions. For that, Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid bin Dagher urged governors of liberated provinces to receive displaced leaders and members of General People's Congress (GPC) who are part of the national revolution against the Houthis.



Israeli Troops Battle Palestinian Fighters in Gaza City of Khan Younis

 Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Troops Battle Palestinian Fighters in Gaza City of Khan Younis

 Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2024. (Reuters)

Israeli troops battled Palestinian fighters in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and destroyed tunnels and other infrastructure, as they sought to suppress small militant units that have continued to hit troops with mortar fire, the military said on Friday.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said troops had killed around 100 Palestinian fighters since Israeli troops began their latest operation in Khan Younis on Monday, which continued as pressure mounted for a deal to halt the fighting.

It said seven small units that had been firing mortars at the troops were hit in an air strike, while further south, in Rafah, four fighters were also killed in air strikes.

The Islamic Jihad armed wing said it fired rockets toward the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and other Israeli towns near Gaza. No casualties were reported, the Israeli ambulance service said.

The continued fighting, more than nine months since the start of Israel's invasion of Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack, underlined the difficulty the IDF has had in eliminating fighters who have reverted to a form of guerrilla warfare in the ruins of the coastal strip.

A Telegram channel operated by the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two main militant groups in Gaza, said fighters had been waging fierce battles with Israeli troops east of Khan Younis with machine guns, mortars and anti-tank weapons.

Medics said at least six Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in eastern Khan Younis.

US PRESSURE

US President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president, both urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a proposed ceasefire deal as soon as possible.

However there has been no clear sign of movement in talks to end the fighting and bring home some 115 Israeli and foreign hostages still being held in Gaza. Public statements from Israel and Hamas appear to indicate that serious differences remain between the two sides.

Local residents contacted by messenger app, said Israeli tanks had pushed into three towns to the east of Khan Younis, Bani Suhaila, Al-Zanna and Al-Karara and blew up several houses in some residential districts.

The military said air force jets hit around 45 targets, including tunnels and two launch pads from which rockets were fired into Beersheba in southern Israel.

Even while the fighting continued around Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, in the northern part of the enclave, Israeli tanks pushed into the Tel Al-Hawa suburb west of Gaza city, residents said.

A Hamas Telegram channel said fighters targeted an Israeli tank in Tal Al-Hawa and shot an Israeli soldier.

Medics said two Palestinians were also killed in an air strike in western Gaza city.

More than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting in Gaza, according to local health authorities, who do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants.

Israeli officials estimate that some 14,000 fighters from armed groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have been killed or taken prisoner, out of a force they estimated to number more than 25,000 at the start of the war.