Yemen’s deputy defence minister says forces advancing on multiple fronts

Yemen’s deputy defence minister, Major General Samir al-Sabri, has said that the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, remains a direct military target for government forces, Al Jazeera has reported. Sabri said control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait and Yemen’s western coast was crucial because of their strategic importance and links to regional and global affairs. The timing of an advance and the need to cross areas near the city are among the factors affecting the operation, he said. Attention remained focused on Hodeidah, Sanaa and Saada, said Sabri, adding that the government forces had “great momentum”.