Saudi-backed military leaders flee Taiz amid advances by Sanaa forces

TAIZ, Oct. 01 (YPA) – Sources familiar the matter reported on Thursday that Saudi-backed military leaders have fled Taiz province following field advances by Sanaa forces on several fronts in Al-Shamayateen and Jabal Habashi districts, as well as the Al-Aqrood front in Al-Misrah district.

The sources said that Yusuf Ali Al-Sharaji, the Saudi-appointed commander of the so-called Taiz Front and commander of the so-called Seventh Division of Dera al-Watan (Homeland Shield), headed toward Tur Al-Baha area of Lahj in the past hours.

According to the sources, Al-Sharaji and several other military leaders fled after Sanaa forces took control of strategic areas in Bani Bakari in Jabal Habashi, Bani Omar and Duba Al-Dakhil in Al-Shamayateen, and Al-Masouri Mountain in Taiz, while approaching Al-Turbah, the district center of Al-Shamayateen.

The sources said the developments were met with widespread support from local residents.

They attributed the flight of the Saudi-backed leaders to material and human losses among Saudi-backed factions,

The sources affirmed that undisclosed local understandings have been made between community leaders, sheikhs and dignitaries in the Al-Hujariya area and Sanaa forces, brokered locally to keep their areas out of the fighting, prevent further bloodshed and thwart Saudi efforts to fuel conflict and destroy the area.

The sources also anticipated that Sanaa forces would take control of Al-Turbah, suggesting that the city could be handed over peacefully to avoid bloodshed and damage to civilian property following the withdrawal of fighters affiliated with the Islah Party from the vicinity of the so-called Fourth Mountain Infantry Brigade.

@@