Sanaa, Oct 21 (IANS) Forces of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched military operations against sites held by the Houthi militia in the oil-rich southern province of Shabwa, a military source said."The government's military operations launched against the Houthi-held sites in the oil-rich district of Usaylan in Shabwa, sparking intense fighting between the two warring rivals in the area," the source told Xinhua news agency.The anti-Houthi military operations were launched simultaneously from different directions and succeeded in recapturing a series of mountainous heights and other key sites from the rebels in Usaylan, he added.The Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition stepped up military operations in an attempt to achieve a breakthrough by securing the country's energy-rich provinces and blocking the rebels' on-ground progress, according to the official.During the past 24 hours, the Saudi-led coalition declared carrying out 26 aerial attacks against the Houthi-held sites in the neighbouring province of Marib.According to the coalition's press release, the air raids resulted in killing more than 82 Houthi fighters and damaging 11 military vehicles.The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched in February a major offensive toward Marib in an attempt to seize control of the province, the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
--IANS ksk/
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