A Yemeni military commander declared on Sunday that the military operation against the Iran-backed Houthi militias in their stronghold of Saada was ongoing and headed in the “right direction.”
Abdulkarim al-Sadei denied to the September.net website claims that the Houthi leader, Abdulmalek al-Houthi, had fled the country.
The reports said that he had escaped through the Sanaa international airport.
He was still in Miran and is surrounded in his stronghold and cannot flee, said Sadei.
With the backing of the Saudi-led Arab coalition, the Yemeni army has for a week been waging fierce battles in Saada where it succeeded in making significant advances in the southwestern Miran region.
One of the top Houthi commanders in Miran, Ahmed Jebran al-Yateem, was killed during the army’s advance on the Wadi Khalb area.
His aide Jaber Jebran al-Jahiz was also killed, said a Yemeni field source.
They were killed during the fierce battles in Miran that have been raging for the past two days, he told September.net.
Abdulmalek al-Houthi had recently appointed Yateem to the Miran front.
Jahiz was as trusted Houthi figure who received training in Iran.
Dozens of militants were killed in the Miran battles.
