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.



Netanyahu Says Significant Progress Made in Talks to Release Hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony on the eve of Israel's Remembrance Day at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in Jerusalem, on April 29, 2025. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony on the eve of Israel's Remembrance Day at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in Jerusalem, on April 29, 2025. (AP)
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Netanyahu Says Significant Progress Made in Talks to Release Hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony on the eve of Israel's Remembrance Day at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in Jerusalem, on April 29, 2025. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony on the eve of Israel's Remembrance Day at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in Jerusalem, on April 29, 2025. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that there had been "significant progress" in efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza, but that it was "too soon" to raise hopes that a deal would be reached.

Despite efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to restore a ceasefire in Gaza, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal.

Netanyahu, who has come under pressure from within his right-wing coalition to continue the war and block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, said in a video statement shared by his office that there had been progress, without providing details.

A source familiar with the negotiations said that Washington had been giving Hamas more assurances, in the form of steps that would lead to an end to the war, but said it was US officials who were optimistic, not Israeli ones. The source said there was pressure from Washington to have a deal done as soon as possible.

The White House National Security Council and representatives for US envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading US efforts in the ceasefire talks, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither did Hamas representatives.

Israel's leadership has said that it would wage war until the remaining 55 hostages held in Gaza are freed and when Hamas, whose October 2023 attack sparked the war, has been dismantled.

Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, has said it would no longer govern after the war if a Palestinian, non-partisan technocratic committee took over, but it has refused to disarm.

The US has proposed a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel said it would abide by the terms, but Hamas has sought amendments. The group has said that it would release all hostages in exchange for a permanent end to the war.

The war in Gaza has raged since Hamas-led gunmen killed 1,200 people in Israel in the October 2023 attack and took 251 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.