Senior Yemeni military commander Abdullah Subaihi said last week he expected government forces to retake Sanaa within two weeks.
On Saturday, fighters loyal to President-in-exile Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi declared the southern province of Abyan liberated after its capital Zinjibar had been regained from Houthis. Media cited Yemeni security officials and pro-government fighters as saying that at least 20 allied fighters had died in friendly fire during the course of Zinjibar’s liberation.
Pro-Hadi forces reclaimed the key southern port city of Aden in mid-July, the province of Lahij earlier this week and reportedly the Ad Dali province north of Aden on Saturday.
A Saudi-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen at Hadi’s request since March. Hadi himself sought refuge in Aden before fleeing to Riyadh the same month.
