The Yemeni army said that it had recaptured strategic military sites in the south of Marib governorate after fierce battles with the Houthis, but that it had lost 4 of its senior officers in the battle of Marib, which Prime Minister Maeen Abdul Malik described as fateful.

And the army's "September Net" website quoted a military leader as saying that the army personnel carried out a military operation yesterday, Tuesday, during which they were able to restore strategic sites on the fronts of the southern oil province of Ma'rib, and this is related to the outskirts of the districts of Juba and Harib.

The military leader, whose identity and name were not revealed, added that the Houthis had incurred great human and material losses in lives and equipment, and a number of members of the group had surrendered.

Alliance Operations

The Saudi-led coalition stated yesterday that it had carried out 14 operations targeting Houthi vehicles and personnel in Al-Juba District and Al-Kasara District in Ma’rib Governorate during the past 24 hours. And in Al-Juba, about 50 km south of the city.

The Yemeni army, Marib tribes and the coalition are trying to prevent the Houthis from reaching the city of Marib, the last stronghold of the government in the north, after the Houthis took control of the Abdiya district last Saturday.

The army, Ma’rib tribes and the coalition are trying to prevent the Houthis, who control power in Sana’a, from reaching the city of Marib, the last stronghold of the internationally recognized government in the north of the country, after the Houthis took control of the Abdiya district, 100 km south of Marib, last Saturday.

The battles in Marib since last February have left hundreds dead on both sides of the conflict, and have displaced more than 55,000 people from their homes since the beginning of this year, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration.

Officers funeral

In a related context, the Yemeni army said yesterday that the bodies of Brigadier General Musaad Al-Sayadi (Head of Operations of the 143rd Infantry Brigade), Brigadier General Abdul-Raqib Al-Naqash, Colonel Ali Al-Hajri and Al-Raeh Waseem Shadiwa, were buried in the city of Ma'rib.

The four senior officers died during the Ma'rib battles, and the army's "September Net" website did not mention the place where these officers were killed.

For his part, Prime Minister Maeen Abdul-Malik said yesterday that - under the directives of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi - he will provide all support and capabilities "to win the existential battle that Marib is witnessing."

He added - in a telephone conversation with the governor of Marib Sultan Al-Arada - that the government supports the efforts of the local authority to deal with the humanitarian situation, and the needs of civilians and the displaced in providing food, medicine and urgent shelter for them.

#Prime Minister @DrMaeenSaeed discusses by phone with the Chinese ambassador @ChineseEmbtoYEM the developments of the situation in light of the escalation of the Houthi militia and its crimes against civilians and the displaced in #Marib, and its rejection of all peace efforts, in addition to the #Chinese support for the government and the economic, service and humanitarian challenges and what it requires of regional and international support pic.twitter. com/dWZJex9sEO

- Presidency of the Yemeni Council of Ministers (@Yemen_PM) October 18, 2021

The head of the International Organization for Migration's mission in Yemen, Christa Rottsteiner, appealed to donors to fund relief operations for the displaced in this country, and said in an interview with Al Jazeera that the real need is to end the conflict.

About 3.3 million Yemenis are still displaced, and 24.1 million, or more than two-thirds of the population, need assistance, according to the United Nations, which has repeatedly stressed that Yemen is currently witnessing the worst humanitarian crisis.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, David Gressly, said that 20 million people in Yemen need assistance, and 5 million are on the threshold of starvation.

He added that the economy is collapsing, food prices have risen and it is difficult to provide goods.

It is noteworthy that Yemen has been witnessing a war for nearly 7 years, which has claimed more than 233,000 lives, and 80% of the population, numbering about 30 million, has become dependent on support and aid.