Yemeni Army Set to Recover Hazm City after Swift Military Advance

Yemen's Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ali al-Maqdashi during his visit to the Military Judicial Department at its temporary headquarters in Marib on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Saba
Yemen's Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ali al-Maqdashi during his visit to the Military Judicial Department at its temporary headquarters in Marib on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Saba
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Yemeni Army Set to Recover Hazm City after Swift Military Advance

Yemen's Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ali al-Maqdashi during his visit to the Military Judicial Department at its temporary headquarters in Marib on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Saba
Yemen's Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ali al-Maqdashi during his visit to the Military Judicial Department at its temporary headquarters in Marib on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Saba

The Yemeni National Army made on Wednesday a significant progress on the fronts of al-Jawf governorate in northern Yemen in the fighting with Houthi militias for the second straight day.

It earlier liberated a strategic camp east of al-Hazm, the provincial capital of Jawf, paving way for retaking the city, military sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

According to the sources, the operations carried out by the army and the popular resistance with air support from the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen continued on Wednesday and resulted in the liberation of many Houthi-controlled sites east of Hazm.

Army forces captured about 25 militants and recovered a number of military vehicles, while Coalition fighters destroyed other coup vehicles and reinforcements, the sources said.

They indicated that the army forces and Dahm tribesmen in Jawf have neared Sabrayn Mountains, west of Bir al-Maraziq and east of Aqaba.

On Tuesday, the army and popular resistance forces tightened their grip on the strategic al-Khanjar camp and its vicinities.

The Media Center of the Yemeni armed forces quoted Brigadier General Haikal Hantaf as stating that the Coalition’s airforce actively participated in the battle and targeted Houthi reinforcements, dealing them heavy blows.

The forces recovered a number of armored vehicles, weapons and ammunition that the militias left behind before fleeing, Hantaf added.

“The battles are ongoing in light of a major collapse in the militias’ ranks,” he stressed, affirming that the army will achieve victory and continue to liberate Hazm city and the entire Jawf governorate.

Acting Commander of the Third Military Region Maj. Gen. Nasser al-Thaybani stressed that forces from the third and sixth military regions continued to advance and score qualitative and strategic victories.

He said the militias have suffered an overwhelming defeat, noting that the army and the resistance killed dozens of militants in airstrikes.



Report: US Embassy in Iraq Preparing for Ordered Evacuation Due to ‘Heightened Security Risks’

The US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters file)
The US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters file)
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Report: US Embassy in Iraq Preparing for Ordered Evacuation Due to ‘Heightened Security Risks’

The US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters file)
The US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters file)

The US embassy in Iraq is preparing for an ordered evacuation due to heightened security risks in the region, an Iraqi security official and a US source said on Wednesday.

Iran's Minister of Defense Aziz Nasirzadeh said earlier in the day that Tehran will strike US bases in the region if nuclear talks and conflict arise with Washington.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"The State Department is set to have an ordered departure for (the) US embassy in Baghdad. The intent is to do it through commercial means, but the US military is standing by if help is requested," another US official said.

US President Donald Trump said he was less confident that Iran will agree to stop uranium enrichment in a nuclear deal with Washington, according to an interview released on Wednesday.

Another US official said that there was no change in operations at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military base in the Middle East and that no evacuation order had been issued for employees or families linked to the US Embassy in Qatar, which was operating as usual.

Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with bombing if it does not reach a new nuclear deal.