Al Mukalla, Yemen: An Arab coalition battling Iran-backed Al Houthi militants in Yemen have dispatched more troops in the province of Marib in central Yemen ahead of a looming offensive to liberate the neighbouring province of Jawf, a local government official told Gulf News on Friday.

A large convoy of trucks carrying sophisticated weapons were seen by residents entering the city from Saudi Arabia.

“The convoy includes thermal rockets, air defense systems and Katyusha rockets coming from Qatar via Saudi Arabia,” the official said on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief reporters.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have sent a substantial number of troops and sophisticated arms to Marib province with their eye on liberating territory captured by Al Houthis and working their way to the capital, Sana’a, where the Houthis still maintain control.

Control

Yemeni soldiers, backed by the coalition have successfully reversed Al Houthi momentum and are now in control of more than 90 per cent of the province.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the resistance in Jawf province told Gulf News that tribesmen and pro-government forces have made their first incursion into the province two days ago, setting the stage for a larger offensive to retake the province.

Al Houthi militants have expanded their influence across the troubled country after taking over the capital in September last year.

Saudi Arabia formed a coalition of some allied Arab countries and stepped in militarily as the militants were approaching the southern port city of Aden where the Yemeni government was based after it fled the capital.

Meanwhile, a local security official in Aden told Gulf News on Friday that the UAE agreed to back a security plan to restore stability to the strategic city.

“We presented a plan to UAE security officials in Aden that included recruiting at least 2,4000 resistance fighters to form a security force for the city. The UAE agreed to pay for their salaries, training and weapons,” a security official who took part in the plan told Gulf News. He also was not authorised to speak to the media.

“The UAE is sending security officers to train the recruits,” he added.

Aden’s security chief, Mohammad Moused, confirmed the plan but refused to give any further details.

“The UAE has agreed to help us with everything,” he told Gulf News.

By incorporating the fighters into the security force, he explained, it would help prevent them from becoming radicalised by Islamist militant groups.