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On January 17, forces loyal to Saudi-backed Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Saudi-led coalition captured the strategic mount of Showkan and nine other positions in Bart al-Anan district of the northern province of al-Jawf, according to the UAE-based al-Arabiya TV. Additionally, pro-Hadi forces captured fifteen fighters of the Houthis.
Showkan Mount overlooks several areas controlled by the Houthis including Silba and al-Quaif valleys that are located 140km away from Saada city. The city is the main target of the Saudi-led coalition operations in al-Jawf province.
Meanwhile, the Houthis attacked several positions of pro-Hadi forces and the Saudi-led coalition in al-Mahashmah village in Khabb wa al-Sha’af district of al-Jawaf province, according to the Yemeni al-Masirah TV. Over twenty fighters of pro-Hadi forces were killed by the Houthis during the attack in al-Mahashmah, the report says.
The Saudi-led coalition was able to make a significant advance in al-Jawf province in the last two months. However, the coalition advance will likely slow down once it gets closer to the main heartland of the Houthis in Yemen, Saada city.
