The internationally-recognized government in Yemen is holding Iran responsible for Houthi military escalation and undermining peacemaking efforts in the war-torn country. Houthis were also slammed for trafficking arms and serving a foreign agenda.

Battlefield developments saw pro-government forces intercepting and foiling Houthi attacks in the governorates of Marib and Jawf. This coincided with Yemeni army troops mounting military operations in the southwestern governorate of Taiz.

Military media reported Houthis incurring heavy losses on multiple battlefronts.

“The continued escalations of the Houthi militia in Marib coincided with the escalation of its extremist attacks on civilians in Saudi Arabia,” said Yemeni Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani, adding that the group is using Iran-made ballistic missiles and drones.

Eryani confirmed that Houthis continue to smuggle Iranian weapons.

The minister added that the Iranian-backed militia is used as a tool to destabilize the security and stability of Yemen and countries of the region.

He also said that the attacks confirm the Iranian regime’s continued intent to undermine efforts to end the war and bring peace to the country.

Eryani further said that the extremist attacks prove the Houthis’ misunderstanding of the language of peace.

“They only mastered killing and destruction,” he said, stressing that Houthi militias are just a cheap tool for implementing an Iranian agenda. Iranian experts continue to heavily influence political and military decisions taken by Houthis.

Eryani said he was surprised by the continued silence of the international community towards the militia which is killing Yemenis and recruiting child soldiers.

He called on the international community not to waste more time and take action to support government efforts to restore power to legitimate state institutions in Yemen.

In Taiz, pro-government forces, backed by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, succeeded in driving Houthi militants out of large swathes of the governorate’s western territory.

Yemeni army forces were able to take control of new sites in the Maqbana district. It also relocated hundreds of soldiers from the governorates of Abyan, Shabwa, and Lahij to Marib, where Houthis are waging a military campaign to take over the oil-rich governorate.

Source » aawsat