Saudi Gazette report

SHABWA, YEMEN — Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, announced the launch of “Freedom of Happy Yemen” operation here on Tuesday.

He said that this is not a military operation, but rather a development operation in order to take care of the Yemeni people. Al-Maliki arrived in Shabwa, the southeastern province of Yemen, after the province was completely liberated from the Houthi militia with the support of the Coalition.

During a joint press conference with Shabwa Governor Awad Al-Awlaki, Al-Maliki expressed his happiness over the liberation of the governorate. He thanked the Giants Brigades and the Army, in addition to the United Arab Emirates for the support they provided.

He also valued those moments, which he described as historic, as a result of the complete liberation of the province from the militias. He said that as the Yemenis liberated Shabwa, they could liberate all of the country if they unite.

The spokesman stressed the importance of carrying out humanitarian and relief work in the country, whether in the liberated Shabwa or Marib, where there are thousands of displaced people, who fled to escape Houthi atrocities.

He explained that the Coalition supported the operations of the army and is still supporting it in order to cleanse the country of these militias, and support the legitimate government, for the benefit of all Yemenis.

He also stressed that the militias are still using the port of Hodeidah to smuggle weapons, while citing strong evidence for this.

On his part, Shabwa Governor Awad Al-Awlaki thanked the Coalition’s support for the victory in Shabwa, saying, “We appreciate the air support provided by the Coalition to support legitimacy in restoring the province.”

He also stressed that the Coalition’s role is essential in the victory over the Houthis and the liberation of the three governorate districts — Usaylan, Bayhan and Ain.

It is noteworthy that the Coalition had announced earlier on the day that it had carried out 37 strikes targeting the militias in Shabwa, during the past 24 hours, in which more than 230 members of Houthi militia were killed and 25 military vehicles destroyed.

On Monday, Yemen’s Giants Brigades announced the liberation of the entire Shabwa province, with the support of the Coalition, from the Houthis, who took control of it last September after fierce battles that lasted for 10 days.