The statement indicated that the army forces "carried out 780 precise and direct targeting operations during the past 24 hours, which reached field commanders, gatherings of the terrorist Houthi militia, their reinforcements, heavy weapon emplacements, fortified positions, vehicles, and means of transporting their personnel and supplies."
He added: "The successive strikes led to disrupting the organization of their forces and depriving them of supporting their front-line positions; which boosted the momentum of the initiative and enabled our units to continue carrying out their offensive tasks on various fronts."
According to the statement, the operations resulted in the neutralization of about 512 Houthi members and leaders, and the destruction and disabling of more than 330 vehicles, mechanisms, and military personnel transport vehicles, in addition to the destruction of heavy weapons and reinforcements that were on their way to the front lines in Taiz Governorate (southwest).
Taiz enjoys strategic importance, as it is the geographical bridge and vital link between the northern governorates, such as Ibb and Sana'a, and the southern ones, such as Lahj and Aden. Controlling it means controlling the supply lines and transport arteries that connect the interim capital, Aden, with the central and northern governorates.
These developments fall within a military escalation in Yemen that renewed last July, resulting in the death and injury of thousands, as well as the displacement of more than a quarter of a million people, according to the United Nations.
Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition to support the legitimate government in Yemen in the face of the Houthi group, which is accused of receiving Iranian support and has controlled the capital, Sana'a, and several governorates since September 2014.
The Houthis control most of the northern and western governorates, including Sana'a, Saada, Amran, Dhamar, Al-Hudaydah, Ibb, Al-Mahwit, and Raymah, and impose partial control in the governorates of Hajjah, Al-Bayda, Ma'rib, Al-Jawf, Al-Dhale'e, and Taiz.
Meanwhile, government forces and their allies control the interim capital, Aden, the governorates of Al-Mahrah, Hadhramaut, Shabwah, and Abyan, the majority of Lahj and Al-Dhale'e governorates, and parts of Taiz, Ma'rib, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, and Saada.
