Yemen: Bayda Heads Towards Liberation

Houthi insurgents parade in Sana'a on December 19, 2017. Khaled Abdullah / Reuters
Houthi insurgents parade in Sana'a on December 19, 2017. Khaled Abdullah / Reuters
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Yemen: Bayda Heads Towards Liberation

Houthi insurgents parade in Sana'a on December 19, 2017. Khaled Abdullah / Reuters
Houthi insurgents parade in Sana'a on December 19, 2017. Khaled Abdullah / Reuters

The Yemeni National Army said that its forces had liberated strategic sites in the province of al-Bayda, resulting in casualties among the army and the militias.

Ali al-Akaily, spokesperson of Decisive Brigade affiliated to Yemeni government forces, said that the Yemeni National Army has successfully liberated the last stronghold of insurgents and moved to Bayda in an operation that won’t stop until full the liberation of Bayda province.

“Liberating Bayda would be easy because the militia didn't witness any stability there because the internal resistance didn't surrender, and because the province has no strategic importance for insurgents,” added Akaily.

The operation coincided with the continuous military operations by the Yemeni National Army, supported by the Saudi-led coalition.

Some observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the current military operations in the east of Sana’a indicate that the Yemeni National Army has prepared itself for a wide-scope offensive on insurgents' locations nearby Sana’a International Airport."

In the same context, Houhti militias continue to shell residential towns in Taiz, leading to the injury of four civilians. But to cover up their defeats in several battlefronts, Houthis escalated severity of their crimes and violations through detentions, killings and shelling residential towns.

Commenting on this, scholar researcher Dr. Abdo al-Bahesh said to Asharq Al-Awsat: “given that the Houthi militias have been disclosed and hated by people, even when about to collapse, they rushed to launch extensive campaigns of violence, arrests and raids of citizens’ houses, in an attempt to spread fear among residents and to prevent any imminent national revolution against the repressive militias.”

Bahesh added: “Clearly, Houthi militias are behaving hysterically, especially after back-stabbing ally Ali Abdullah Saleh who was providing militias a political cover-up and a social justification of various crimes, including the coup over the Yemeni government.”



Syrian Presidency Says Ceasefire in Place, Urges Parties to Respect it

Bedouin fighters from various provinces gather at Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, July 19, 2025, before heading to the southern province of Sweida to join clashes between Bedouin clans and Druze fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Bedouin fighters from various provinces gather at Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, July 19, 2025, before heading to the southern province of Sweida to join clashes between Bedouin clans and Druze fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
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Syrian Presidency Says Ceasefire in Place, Urges Parties to Respect it

Bedouin fighters from various provinces gather at Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, July 19, 2025, before heading to the southern province of Sweida to join clashes between Bedouin clans and Druze fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Bedouin fighters from various provinces gather at Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, July 19, 2025, before heading to the southern province of Sweida to join clashes between Bedouin clans and Druze fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

The Syrian government said its internal security forces began deploying in Sweida on Saturday as the presidency called on all parties to respect a ceasefire following bloodshed in the area that has left hundreds dead.

In a statement, the Syrian presidency announced an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and urged all parties to commit to it and end hostilities in all areas immediately.

The country's interior ministry spokesperson said earlier on Saturday that internal security forces had begun deploying in Sweida, in southern Syria.

US envoy Tom Barrack announced on Friday that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire. Israel intervened in the conflict earlier this week, hitting government forces and the defense ministry building in Damascus as it declared support for the Druze minority.

Syria's Sweida province has been engulfed by nearly a week of violence which began with clashes between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, before drawing in government security forces that were sent to the area by Damascus.