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On May 16, the Saudi-led coalition and its Yemeni proxies launched a new ground attack against the Houthis in the al-Atifyn region of the Kitaf wa al-Boqe’e district in the northern province of Saada and captured the areas of Tibab Ajam, Khashim Adiyaq and al-Barq al-Ahmar mount, according to the UAE-based al-Arabiya TV.
Yemeni sources reported that the Saudi-led coalition and its proxies had killed dozens of Houthi fighters and had captured two others during their advance in the al-Atifyn region.
The Yemeni al-Masira TV said that warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition had conducted more than five airstrikes on the northern part of Saada province. The source also announced that Houthi fighters had shot down a drone of the coalition in the province.
Observers believe that the Saudi-led coalition resumed its military operations against the Houthis in Saada province in order to secure the Saudi-Yemeni border and to limit the Houthis’ capabilities of launching ballistic missiles. According to the coalition, the Houthis launched most of their missiles from Saada.
The Saudi-led coalition will likely face a strong resistance in Saada province, as it is considered the homeland of the Houthis. Moreover, the Houthis’ leadership is believed to be stationed there.
