Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing
On February 20, Muammar al-Iryani, Minister of Media in the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, claimed that the Houthis had targeted the central city of Ma’rib with seven ballistic missile.
“The indiscriminate bombing of residential areas in Ma’rib by terrorist Houthi militia of Iran, with seven Iranian-made ballistic missiles, reveals state of hysteria it is experiencing,” the minister said on Twitter.
Al-Iryani claimed that the Houthis’ missiles hit residential areas within Ma’rib as well as displacement camps located in the outskirts of the city.
Yemeni activists said that the missiles caused some material losses. However, no civilians or military casualties were reported.
The Houthis continue to maintain a large presence some 30 kilometers to the south of Ma’rib city. In the last few days, the group’s fighter repelled several large attacks by Saudi-led coalition proxies. The missile strikes on Ma’rib city may have been a response to these attacks.
The battle of Ma’rib appears to be heating up again. The Houthis may resume their advance towards the city very soon. The Saudi-led coalition attempt to distract the group with a side battle in the northwestern province of Hajjah has failed miserably.
