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On March 15, fighters loyal to Saudi-backed Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi captured the villages of al-Aqiwus, al-Qurafah, Habk and al-Rafsa as well as the al-Najah schools in al-Salw district southeast of the city of Taiz, the capital of the southwestern Taiz province, the media center of pro-Hadi forces reported.
The UAE-based al-Arabiya TV reported that pro-Hadi fighters backed up by the Saudi-led coalition had killed 20 Houthis fighters and had injured many others during their advance. Several vehicles belonging to the Houthis were also destroyed by pro-Hadi forces artillery strikes.
Previously, pro-Hadi forces captured several villages in the al-Salw district on February 1. However, the Houthis recaptured the all the villages few days later in a rapid attack.
The ongoing military operation of the Saudi-led coalition in the province of Taiz is aimed at breaking the Houthis siege on the city. Since the beginning of the operation on January 25, the Saudi-led coalition has not mady any significant gains, mainly due to the effective resistance of the Houthis, which have adapted to the harsh terrain around the city.
