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Nearly two dozen of Riyadh's mercenaries killed in Yemen

Friday, 11 March 2016 6:02 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 11 March 2016 6:01 PM ]

Saudi-backed militants loyal to Yemen’s fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi fire a heavy machine gun as they hold a position in the Nihm district of Sana'a Province, Yemen, on February 2, 2016. (© AFP)

Nearly two pro-Saudi militants loyal to fugitive former Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi have been killed in an offensive by Yemeni army forces and allied fighters in the southwestern province of Ta'izz.

On Friday evening, at least 23 Saudi mercenaries were killed as Yemeni troops backed by fighters from Popular Committees mounted a rocket attack in the Dhubab district of the province, located about 350 kilometers (217 miles) south of the capital, Sana’a, Arabic-language al-Masirah satellite television network reported.

A senior commander, identified as Colonel Salem Mubarak, was among those killed in the offensive. As many as 50 militiamen were also wounded in the surprise attack.

Earlier in the day, Saudi military aircraft pounded Sirwah district in the central Yemeni province of Ma'rib, though no reports of casualties and the extent of damage caused were available.

Yemenis inspect the damage following a Saudi airstrike in the capital, Sana’a, on February 27, 2016. (© AFP)

Saudi jets also struck telecommunication towers in the Wahet district of the southwestern Lahij Province as well residential buildings in the al-Ta'iziyah district of Ta’izz Province, but not casualties were reported.

Yemen has been under military attacks by Saudi Arabia since late March last year. The Saudi military strikes were launched to supposedly undermine the Ansarullah movement and bring Hadi back to power.

At least 8,400 people, among them 2,236 children, have reportedly been killed and 16,015 others injured, since March. The strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country’s facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

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