Yemeni supporters of the Shiite Houthi militia attend a demonstration in the second largest city of Taiz.

At least 16 Houthi militias were killed as Yemen’s army and Popular Resistance forces advance to liberate several strategic areas in Taiz.

Clashes were centered around the small coastal town of Dhubab in Taiz while the areas of al-Mansoura and Jebal al-Amri were also liberated on Saturday morning, the spokesman of for the Yemeni army in Taiz confirmed.

The spokesman said Houthi militias and forces loyal to ousted former president Ali Abdullah Saleh were defeated in the areas by the advancement of ground forces and coalition air raids.

The advances in Taiz come a day after a 24-hour operation was launched by coalition forces which carried out 20 airstrikes on various militia targets in Saada, Lahaj and Taiz, which also destroyed a ballistic missile launch pad in the Directorate of Zibab.

The aerial bombardments followed a missile attack launched by the militias group against Yemeni government forces positioned in Bab al-Mandab on Thursday.

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