SANAA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni government army backed by the Saudi-led coalition recaptured Harib district in the central province of Marib on Saturday from the Houthi militia after a deadly battle, a military source told Xinhua.
The Yemeni army entered the district's central town this morning and now is combing the areas surrounding it, the source at the frontline said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV reported that the coalition carried out 33 airstrikes on Marib in the past 24 hours, destroying 21 vehicles of the Houthi militia and killing 190 militants.
The Houthi media has not made its comment yet.
The Houthis seized Harib and several other districts in the government-controlled province last year.
Last week, the Yemeni army recaptured three districts in the adjacent province of Shabwa from the Houthi militia after a 10-day battle, taking the whole province of Shabwa from the militia.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. ■
