MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Yemeni president made a surprise visit to the governorate of Marib, south of the capital, during the preparations of the government forces for the operation to liberate the capital.
"We will soon celebrate the liberation of Sanaa and other provinces," Hadi said, as quoted by Sky News Arabia, making a promise that he will "clear the country of rebels" and "fly the Yemeni flag" over Saada, their main stronghold.
Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by Hadi and the Houthis supported by army units loyal to former Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Hadi left the country for Saudi Arabia in March 2015 and since then a Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at his request.
