Brigadier General Yahya Sari, spokesman of the Yemeni Armed Forces. Source: almasirah.net.ye
On October 17, the Houthis (Ansar Allah) announced that their fighters captured an area of 3,200 square kilometers in the central Yemeni provinces of Shabwah and Ma’rib from Saudi-backed forces during a new large-scale operation, dubbed “Spring of Victory”.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Sari, a spokesman for the Houthis, said that the group’s fighters captured the districts of Usaylan, Bayhan and Ain in Shabwah as well as the districts of Harib and al-Abdiyah in Ma’rib.
Click to see full-size map. Areas captured by the Houthis are in green.
In the course of the operation, Houthi fighters also captured several positions in the districts of al-Jubah and Jabal Murad in Ma’rib.
“The operation resulted in the killing, wounding and capture of hundreds of mercenaries of the aggression, including members of the so-called al-Qaeda and ISIS, and the seizing of large quantities of weapons,” Brig. Gen. Sari said during a press conference.
According to the spokesman, the Houthis will reveal more information on Operation Spring of Victory in the upcoming few days.
The Houthis have been leading an offensive to capture Ma’rib city and nearby oil fields for well over seven months now. Several local tribes are backing the offensive.
Earlier this month, Houthi fighters reached the western outskirts of Ma’rib city after conducting a successful large-scale operation dubbed Dawn of Victory.
Now, the Houthis are in a better position to advance towards the southern outskirts of Ma’rib city. The Yemeni group will likely attempt to besiege the city in order to avoid a heated urban battle with Saudi-backed forces.
