As conflict has erupted in some parts of Yemen, the armed forces’ air force has said on Friday it has attacked 20 precision targeted Houthis in the province of Taiz.
The military spokesman said the strikes lasted for three hours each, and hit a range of Houthi activities such as movement toward their forces, reinforcement envoys, gatherings, personnel, vehicles, and military equipment. The attacks “went directly” on their targets and inflicted losses on Houthis’ personnel and military assets, the spokesperson said. No independent verification of the claims was made possible.
The latest strikes coincide with fresh theatrically staged clashes between Yemeni forces loyal to the internationally recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthis in the cityof Taiz. In recent days, there has been news of military operations and troops deployment by the Yemeni government forces in the province against Houthi positions.
In the meantime, Iran has been quoted as having made an alleged concession in other nuclear talks. In closed-door talks with European and Middle East diplomats at the U.N., Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered to allow international nuclear inspectors back in to access facilities damaged over the past few years in return for sanctions being lifted, Bloomberg reported, citing people involved in the conversations.
It was reported that this proposal was discussed while Araghchi was in New York for the UN General Assembly. Also, diplomats stated he made efforts to win European backing to lift “full range” UN sanctions on Iran.
Iran has then denied the Bloomberg story that it offered to make its nuclear facilities available for inspections in return for the lifting of sanctions. The reported talks coincide with the present deadlock between Iran and the U.S. over diplomacy.
The countries negotiating stem weapons and the developments in Yemen are occurring in the backdrop of increased tensions in the Middle East. Other specifics of the reported strikes and whether any casualties have resulted and whether the nuclear talks are still on track remain to be confirmed.