Screen grab from the footage released by the Houthis.
On January 5, the Houthis (Ansar Allah) released new combat footage from their recent large-scale operation in the northern Yemeni province of al-Jawf.
The footage shows Houthi fighters capturing the al-Khanjar camp and the mount of al-Shabakah from Saudi-backed forces. During the clashes around the camp, many Saudi-backed fighters were killed. Several military vehicles of Saudi-backed forces, including two T-55 battle tanks, were also destroyed or damaged.
In the course of the operation, codenamed Desert Dawn, the Houthis captured some 1,200 square kilometers, including the key area of al-Yatemah and its surroundings, from Saudi-backed-backed forces.
Houthi fighters killed 35 Saudi-backed fighters, wounded 37 and captured 45 others. They also destroyed, burned or damaged 15 military vehicles.
The large-scale operation was a major blow to the Saudi-led coalition and its proxies, who were at the time struggling to halt the Houthis’ advance in the central province of Ma’rib as well as along the coast line of the southwestern province of Taiz.
After advancing in al-Jawf, the Houthis can now conduct operations along the border with the southern Saudi province of Najran with much more freedom.
