Iran-backed rebels say they "regretted the absence of a clear and transparent response" from Saudi Arabia to their own ceasefire initiative, a day after the Saudi-led coalition declared Ramadan ceasefire in the poor Arab country.
Iran-backed Houthis were now in control of the Assilan, Bayhan and Ain districts in Shabwa as well as the Abdiya and Harib districts in Marib, said local officials and residents.
The loss of Marib would be a heavy blow for the Yemeni government, currently based in the southern city of Aden, and for its Saudi backers.
The raids in Yemen's rebel-held capital come after the coalition said it intercepted 10 drones launched by the rebels on Sunday, in a sharp escalation in cross-border attacks on the kingdom.
Blamed on the Houthi rebels, Wednesday’s attack on Aden airport killed at least 26 people and occurred just as members of the president’s new cabinet arrived from Saudi Arabia.
The sudden spike in violence across long-stalemated front lines threatened to exacerbate the five-year conflict and complicate indirect peace talks between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed rebels.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for all latest in-depth, on the ground reporting from around the world.
Copyright © 2023 TRT World.
Like
Follow