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.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.