Saudi-Led Coalition Helped Regain Control Over 80% of Yemen

The recapturing of about 80 percent of the Yemeni territory and the restoration of the military capability of the state’s army are among the major achievements of the Saudi-led coalition’s operation in the country, a spokesman of the Yemeni army said.

CAIRO (Sputnik) – Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Shiite Houthi rebels, the country’s main opposition force, who have been supported by army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Since late March 2015, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been carrying out airstrikes against Houthi positions at Hadi's request.

"A number of successes were achieved in the course of the year, but perhaps the most important of them was the defeat of the rebels in the temporary capital of Aden and now on the outskirts of Sanaa. Restoring the combat capability of the national Yemeni army is among the achievements as well. Among the successes of the army of the popular resistance [pro-government forces] and the coalition is the return under the [government] control of approximately 80 percent of the Yemeni territory," Brig. Gen. Samir Haj stated in an interview to RIA Novosti.

On Wednesday, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said that the conflicting parties in Yemen had agreed to a ceasefire that would come into effect at midnight on April 10. The sides to the conflict also agreed to start peace talks in Kuwait on April 18.