FOR HADI MEN, NEXT STOP IS TAEZ

Tribal fighters against Shiite rebels known as Houthis give the victory sign as they gather following heavy fighting between the two groups, in Taiz, Yemen, on Sunday. (AP)

FORCESTaez, Yemen, 2 Dzulqa’da 1436/17 August 2015 (MINA) – Pro-government forces supported by Gulf air strikes have made key gains against Iran-backed Shiite opposition in Yemen’s third city Taez, seen as a gateway to the capital, military sources said Sunday.

The so-called Popular Resistance Committees, loyal to exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, have seized several strategic locations in central Taez, military officials said.

However, the Houthi opposition and their allies still control entrances to Taez and other parts of the city, Arab News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The officials reported heavy fighting around the presidential palace in Taez and the nearby central security forces’ camp — held by the rebels.

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Rashad Al-Sharaabi, spokesman of the Popular Resistance Committees in Taez, said 10 oppositions and four loyalist fighters were killed in the past 24 hours.

Loyalist forces have retaken the intelligence headquarters and a fortress from which the opposition had been shelling Taez, as well as the highest peak overlooking the city on Jabal Sabr, Sharaabi told AFP.

Saudi-led Gulf coalition warplanes carried out several fresh air strikes in Taez early on Sunday, witnesses said. (T/P001/RO6)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)