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Arabia | ||
20 Yemen rebels killed as loyalists press offensive | ||
2015-09-27 | ||
Loyalist forces
"Loyalist forces, supported by coalition aircraft, have made a slight advance" in the northwest of Marib, Abda Al Subei, of the provincial security forces, said. President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's forces launched a major ground offensive against the Houthi rebels in oil-rich Marib province on September 13, backed by the coalition. Subei said Saturday's operation came a day after coalition air strikes on rebel positions. He did not elaborate on the overall progress of the offensive.
Meanwhile, a senior Saudi officer and another border guard were killed in a gun battle after a landmine blast along the frontier with Yemen, the interior ministry said. Colonel Hassan Ghasoum Ageeli and a sergeant died late Friday in the Jazan district, and four other guards were lightly wounded, a ministry statement said. Ageeli is one of the most senior Saudi officers killed since March when the Kingdom formed the coalition. The landmine blast damaged vehicles patrolling the border district. After backup arrived, "they were subject to heavy shooting from several locations inside the Yemeni border," sparking a firefight, it said. Riyadh launched air strikes against the Houthis six months ago to support President Hadi's internationally backed government that was losing ground. | ||
Posted by:Steve White |