Yemeni Army takes over presidential palace in Taiz

Yemeni Army managed to take control of the presidential palace in the eastern area of the Yemeni city of Taiz amid clashes between Houthi militias and their allies from the forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. According to military source, the presidential palace has been fully liberated after a week from the control of the army on the building of the presidential palace.  

The Sofitel hill overlooking eastern Taiz is one of the most beautiful highlands in the city. The residents of Taiz have never thought that it would be a source of concern for nearly 2 years, when the militias took over the city and turned it into a military barracks.

The location of the hill overlooks the eastern entrance of the city and the line connecting Taiz, Sanaa and Aden contributed to the siege of the city.

The heavy weapons of the militias stationed on the hill, including what is known as the “Sofitel tank” were not only targeting the vital facilities that have recently witnessed fierce battles like the Presidential Palace and the Tashrifat Camp, but also residential neighborhoods in the center of Taiz.

The location that overlooks large areas of eastern Taiz and features the city’s most famous hotel that was opened in 2002, was targeted by coalition fighters in a series of violent raids that resulted in the destruction of militias’ vehicles and equipment.

A Yemeni army source said that the raids killed and injured dozens of militia members who were at the Sofitel Hotel that was hit by the raids.

The residents of Taiz, whose eyes have been locked on this hill and the death shells that will be targeting them, hope that this would be the last thing that emerges from the Sofitel hill towards the neighborhoods of Taiz.

Yemeni Minister of Human Rights Mohammed Askar said that militias have blown up more than 300 mosques and centers for Holy Quran memorization in Yemen since their coup against the legitimate authority.

He said during his participation in a regional seminar on the human rights discourse on confronting religious extremism in Cairo that the militias have arrested and killed more than 600 religious preachers, the official Yemen News Agency reported today.

On the other hand, Qaeda militants claimed responsibility for a car bomb and gun attack on an army camp in southeastern Yemen early on Monday that killed at least 10 militants and two soldiers, according to a statement posted on Twitter.

The attack, near the town of Baddah in oil-producing Hadramout province, came after a lull in attacks by the Islamist militant group's Yemeni affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Attackers set off two car bombs outside the camp, a military official said. Residents said they also heard gunfire after two loud explosions.

"Our soldiers foiled the attack and managed to secure the camp and we are still pursuing those who have escaped in nearby farms," the official told Reuters by phone. In its statement, al Qaeda said several "elite" troops were killed and vehicles destroyed, and that one of its fighters died. Al Qaeda took advantage of years of turmoil to build up one of its most active branches in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country.