"The forces trying to establish a legitimate authority regained control of 85 percent of the territory of Yemen. The fighting continues to retake Bihan district in Shabwah governorate," Malaki said at a press conference broadcast by Sky News Arabia.
According to the spokesman, only northern parts of Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa, remain under the Houthis' control.
According to the broadcaster, over the past 24 hours, Saudi-led coalition warplanes have carried out 30 airstrikes on Houthi positions across the country.
READ MORE: Saudi Arabia Loosens Grip on Yemen, Opens Port to Aid
#BREAKING: #ArabCoalition: #Yemen's Legitimate forces now control 85 percent of #Yemeni territory. — @AlArabiya_Eng pic.twitter.com/CVKsYxT3Rr
— Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) 20 декабря 2017 г.
Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict since 2015, with the government of President Hadi fighting against the Houthi rebels, backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Since March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen under Hadi's request.
The conflict escalated in November when clashes in Sanaa between the Houthis and Saleh’s units broke out. On December 4, shortly after reaffirming the end of his alliance with the Houthis, Saleh was killed by the rebels.
