Fighters from the pro-government Giants Brigades on patrol in Yemen’s Shabwa governorate. AFP
Fighters from the pro-government Giants Brigades on patrol in Yemen’s Shabwa governorate. AFP
Fighters from the pro-government Giants Brigades on patrol in Yemen’s Shabwa governorate. AFP
Fighters from the pro-government Giants Brigades on patrol in Yemen’s Shabwa governorate. AFP

Yemeni government pushes back against Houthis by taking territory in Marib


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Yemen’s internationally recognised government has taken control of a city in Marib governorate, the Saudi ambassador to the country said on Tuesday.

The Houthis have lost Harib district, south of Marib, the strategically vital northern city they have been fighting to hold for months.

“Harib in Marib is in the hands of the Yemeni government,” Saudi ambassador to the country Mohammed Al Jaber said on Twitter.

Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition at the request of the Yemen government after it was forced from the capital city, Sanaa, by the rebels in 2014.

On Tuesday, the coalition launched a new military operation against what it called “legitimate” targets in Sanaa in response to the Houthi threats to civilian lives.

Government forces also said they had regained strategic sites between Marib and the governorate of Shabwa.

Internet services have largely been restored in Yemen after a four-day cut, residents said.

The coalition has stepped up strikes against the rebels in response to increasing drone and missile attacks on neighbouring countries.

The Houthis have repeatedly struck Saudi Arabia and have escalated attacks recently.

They launched ballistic missile attacks on the kingdom and in the UAE on Monday morning.

The two missiles aimed at the Emirates and one at Saudi Arabia were intercepted.

The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union has condemned the attacks, as have countries including the US, France, Egypt, Hungary, Argentina, Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Last week, a Houthi drone attack killed three civilians in the UAE, a member of the coalition that supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

On Friday, the UN Security Council condemned the attacks on Abu Dhabi as “heinous terrorist crimes”.

The Iran-backed rebels continue to hold the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and large areas of the north after nearly seven years of civil war.

Takreem Awards winners 2021

Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)

Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)

Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)

Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)

Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)

Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)

Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)

Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)

Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)

Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)

Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

UAE cricketers abroad

Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.

Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.

Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.

War and the virus
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Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

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Updated: January 25, 2022, 1:11 PM`