Photo: Reuters / Yemen’s Defence Ministry.
On February 5, forces from the pro-Saudi 5th District of the Yemeni military besieged the city of Harad, which is held by the Houthis (Ansar Allah), in the northwestern Yemen province of Hajjah after a successful offensive.
Harad is located in the northern part of Hajjah, only some 15 kilometers away from al-Tuwal border crossing with Saudi Arabia.
The 5th District’s forces managed to besiege Houthi forces inside Harad after capturing the strategic al-Mihsam camp, which is located to the east of the city.
بالصور | قوات الجيش اليمني تتقدم في الأحياء الجنوبية والغربية لمدينة #حرض وتخوض اشتباكات مع عناصر #ميليشيات_الحوثي المتحصنة داخل المدينة#الحدث_اليمني pic.twitter.com/N1CljqisCk
— الحدث اليمني (@Alhadath_Ymn) February 5, 2022
The Saudi-led coalition has been supporting the offensive on Harad. Between February 4 and 5, coalition warplanes carried out 21 airstrikes on Houthis forces in Hajjah and the central province of Ma’rib. According to the coalition’s claims, scores of Houthi fighters were killed and 13 vehicles of the group were destroyed.
Coalition warplanes also carried out a number of airstrikes on the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, likely in an attempt to further pressure the group.
#اليمن – التحالف: نفذنا 21 استهدافا ضد #ميليشيات_الحوثي في مأرب خلال الـ 24 ساعة الماضية pic.twitter.com/4LH4qCIJsW
— الحدث اليمني (@Alhadath_Ymn) February 5, 2022
Moreover, the Saudi-led coalition imposed a “no-drive zone” around Harad. Colonel Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the coalition, warned Yemeni civilians against using any road leading to the city.
The surprise Saudi-backed attack on Harad will likely provoke a fierce response from the Houthis, who maintain large forces in western, northwestern and northern Yemen. The group may soon attack sensitive targets in Saudi Arabia with drones and missiles.
