Aden (AFP) – Yemeni loyalists and Saudi-led coalition forces launched an offensive Monday to retake the key battleground province of Taez from Iran-backed rebels, as uncertainty surrounded the fate of UN-brokered peace talks.
Taez is seen as a gateway to the capital, which has been held by the Shiite Huthi rebels since September last year. It is located at the crossroads between Sanaa, Yemen’s second city and main port of Aden and Mocha on the Red Sea coast.
The forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi have been pressing to recapture parts of Yemen seized by the Huthis and their allies — forces still loyal to ousted ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
They have been backed by a Saudi-led coalition that launched air strikes in March and began a major counter-offensive in July that has since reclaimed five southern provinces.
“The military operation to liberate Taez has begun after the arrival of military reinforcements from the Arab coalition, resistance forces and the national army in the south and west of Taez province,” General Ahmed al-Yafie, commander of the fourth military region, told AFP.
The region includes Taez as well as Aden in the south.
Military officials have said the coalition sent major reinforcements before they advanced towards Taez, Yemen’s third biggest city.
Armoured demining vehicles and other reinforcements arrived in the Shuraija region, between the loyalist-controlled Lahj province and Taez in the southwest, said the officials based in Aden.
Dozens of coalition armoured vehicles were taking part in the three-pronged offensive, the sources said.
Arab coalition planes meanwhile carried out several strikes against rebel positions and checkpoints in the regions of Rahida, south of Taez, and Mocha to facilitate the advance of the ground troops.
Sudanese forces from the strategic Al-Anad airbase in Lahj were taking part in the Taez operations, according to the sources.

Taez has seen heavy fighting in recent months between the Huthis and forces fighting for Hadi internationally recognised government.
Loyalist forces are inside Taez, where they have been besieged by rebels who control the main roads leading into the city.
Along the coast, coalition troops deployed in Dhubab in a bid to advance onto rebel-held Mocha, which also lies in Taez province, the sources said.
On Sunday, military officials spoke of major coalition reinforcements of troops and equipment arriving in Taez from Aden.
This month, a 400-strong Sudanese force arrived in Aden in support of loyalist forces, joining 500 who arrived in October.