Yemeni army captures strategic mountain range in Al-Jawf after battles with Houthis

ADEN — The Yemeni army has secured control of a strategic mountain range in the northern province of Al-Jawf following clashes with Houthi forces, a field commander said Saturday.Col. Rabie Al-Qurashi, an army field commander in Al-Jawf, told Anadolu that government forces had captured the entire Huwayshian mountain range east of Al-Hazm, the provincial capital.He said the advance followed battles with Houthi forces and was supported by warplanes that destroyed dozens of vehicles belonging to the group.Al-Qurashi added that military operations were continuing in the area.The Huwayshian mountains form the first line of defense for Al-Hazm, which remains under Houthi control, he said.According to local Yemeni media, capturing the strategic high ground allows government forces to disrupt Houthi supply routes across the province.The mountains also overlook key Houthi positions near Al-Hazm, giving government forces a strategic advantage in ongoing operations.Government troops seized parts of the mountain range during clashes Friday before completing their capture Saturday, according to an Anadolu correspondent.Al-Jawf holds strategic importance because of its location along the Saudi border and its proximity to the Houthi-controlled provinces of Saada, Amran and Sanaa.The province also borders the oil-producing provinces of Hadramout and Marib, which remain under government control.Control of Al-Jawf remains divided, with the Houthis holding Al-Hazm and other areas while government forces control other parts of the province. Both sides continue to contest strategic positions.Separately, the Yemeni army said it had carried out 1,119 strikes against Houthi forces in recent hours, claiming to have “neutralized” 427 members of the group and destroyed or damaged 142 military vehicles, pieces of equipment and means of transport.In a statement, the army said the strikes supported ground forces in advancing and capturing several strategic positions and elevated areas along the Al-Jawf front.The army also reported continued fighting in the southwestern province of Taiz, where government forces, backed by the Popular Resistance, targeted Houthi movements and reinforcements with air and artillery support.