Imminent Fall of Remaining Key Houthi Pockets West of Taiz

Yemeni government forces. AP file photo
Yemeni government forces. AP file photo
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Imminent Fall of Remaining Key Houthi Pockets West of Taiz

Yemeni government forces. AP file photo
Yemeni government forces. AP file photo

Yemeni Joint Forces backed by the Arab Coalition succeeded on Sunday to secure al-Hayma seaport of At-Tuhayata on the Red Sea and to liberate al-Qataba region south of the Hodeida governorate.

Meanwhile, Houthis were dealt a severe blow west of Taiz, where Yemeni forces tightened their grip on the remaining rebel pockets in the town of al-Burh.

The military development came two days after the Tehami resistance, the Giant Brigades and the National Resistance led by Tariq Mohammad Abdullah Saleh mounted a largescale military operation to liberate Hodeida from the grips of the Iranian-backed Houthi militias.

The forces terminated the presence of rebels in areas west and southwest of Taiz, including al-Waziya directorate, Mozza and Al-Omari military camp.

Yemeni forces also regained control of Kahboub mountainous area, as the Iran-backed Houthis fled to neighboring villages.

Field sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that battles to regain territory north of Hodeida from the directorates of al-Khawkha and Habas intensified on Sunday after Yemeni Joint Forces deployed in the districts of al-Jarahi and Tahita, controlling the local al-Hayma seaport.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Tariq Saleh’s military media said: “The Giant Brigades have liberated al-Hayma seaport.”

This victory coincided with the complete clearing of the nearby al-Qataba area from Houthi militias.

Yemen’s National Army also advanced Sunday in al-Burh area, and surrounded the city from three directions, as Coalition forces fiercely shelled remaining Houthi positions in the city.

Military observers told Asharq Al-Awsat they expect that Houthi forces would collapse in al-Burh town and other pockets located 40 kilometers away from the east of Taiz city.

“By liberating the town of al-Burh, Yemeni forces would have taken from Houthis their most important pocket west of Taiz,” the observers said.



Syria to Start Currency Swap on January 1st, Central Bank Governor Says

Syrian pounds are pictured inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
Syrian pounds are pictured inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
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Syria to Start Currency Swap on January 1st, Central Bank Governor Says

Syrian pounds are pictured inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
Syrian pounds are pictured inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

​Syria will start swapping ‌old bank ‌notes ‌for ⁠new ​ones ‌under a plan to replace ⁠Assad-era ‌notes starting ‍from ‍January ‍1st 2026, Syria's ​Central Bank Governor Abdelkader Husrieh ⁠said on Thursday, Reuters reported.


Türkiye Begins Black Box Analysis of Jet Crash That Killed Libyan Military Chief and 7 Others

Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
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Türkiye Begins Black Box Analysis of Jet Crash That Killed Libyan Military Chief and 7 Others

Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)

The technical analysis of the recovered black boxes from a jet crash that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, began as the investigation proceeded in cooperation with Libyan authorities, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said Thursday.

The private jet with Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other military officials and three crew members crashed on Tuesday after taking off from Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.

The high-level Libyan delegation was on its way back to Tripoli after holding defense talks in Ankara aimed at boosting military cooperation between the two countries.

The wreckage was scattered across an area covering 3 square kilometers (more than a square mile), complicating recovery efforts, according to the Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

A 22-person delegation, including five family members, arrived from Libya early on Wednesday to assist in the investigation.


Lebanese President: We are Determined to Hold Parliamentary Elections on Time

President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
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Lebanese President: We are Determined to Hold Parliamentary Elections on Time

President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated on Thursday that the country’s parliamentary elections are a constitutional obligation that must be carried out on time.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency quoted Aoun as saying that he, alongside Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, is determined to hold the elections on schedule.

Aoun also emphasized that diplomatic efforts have continued unabated to keep the specter of war at bay, noting that "things are heading in a positive direction".

The agency also cited Berri reaffirming that the elections will take place as planned, with "no delays, no extensions".

The Lebanese parliamentary elections are scheduled for May next year.