Pro-government forces say eight Houthis killed in Yemen

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Aden, Dec 24 (IANS) Yemen’s pro-government forces announced Tuesday that eight Houthi fighters were killed and 15 others wounded during intense clashes sparked in the country’s southwestern province of Taiz.

In a brief press statement, the pro-government forces said the Houthis launched a “failed assault” in “an attempt to breach fortified military sites” controlled by the government in the northwestern part of Taiz during the past hours.

Eyewitnesses confirmed seeing Houthi medical teams evacuating the injured from the battleground and transferring them to hospitals outside Taiz.

They also noted that the Houthis dispatched large reinforcements from neighboring provinces, including Ibb, to bolster offensive operations against the government forces in Taiz, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Houthis have not issued any official statement regarding the ongoing clashes in Taiz. However, pro-Houthi media outlets accused the pro-government forces of “aligning with foreign powers, including the United States and Israel,” in a broader campaign against Yemen.

Yemen has been in a state of an uneasy calm since October 2, 2022, when the government and the Houthi group failed to renew and expand a UN-brokered truce.

Despite years of diplomatic efforts, the two sides have yet to reach an agreement to end the conflict, which the UN estimates has killed hundreds of thousands of people and pushed millions to the brink of famine.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced early Tuesday that it had intercepted a missile launched by Houthi forces in Yemen.

The missile, which was aimed at Tel Aviv, triggered air-raid sirens across central and southern Israel, forcing millions of residents to seek shelter just before 2 am local time (0000 GMT).

“A projectile launched from Yemen was intercepted prior to crossing into Israeli territory,” the IDF said in a statement, adding that the sirens were activated as a precaution due to the possibility of falling shrapnel from the interception.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service, said that a woman was seriously injured after falling while rushing to a shelter.

This missile attack came just a day after Houthi forces launched a drone strike on Israel, which was also intercepted, according to the IDF. The Houthis have sporadically targeted Israel since October in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

In retaliation, Israel has launched several large-scale airstrikes on Yemen, with the most recent one occurring on Thursday.

–IANS

int/as

Related Posts

Nearly 10 lakh job letters issued under Rozgar Mela since 2022: PM Modi

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) In the last one and a half years, around 10 lakh permanent government jobs have been offered, setting a remarkable record, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, taking part in the 14th edition of Rozgar Mela.

While distributing 71,000 job offers, PM Modi highlighted that such job fairs were part of the government’s endeavour to provide employment with complete transparency. So far, 9.25 lakh job letters have been issued in 14 editions of Rozgar Mela.

On Monday, the Rozgar Mela was held at 45 locations across the country. The recruitments took place for various ministries and departments of the Central Government.

PM Modi launched Rozgar Mela – the recruitment drive for 10 lakh personnel — on October 22, 2022. The first edition saw the handing over of appointment letters to 75,000 new appointees.

Rozgar Mela represents a significant initiative by the Government to enhance employment opportunities for the youth across India. By facilitating direct connections between job seekers and employers, it not only addresses the pressing issue of unemployment but also empowers individuals to contribute to national development.

In the 13th edition of Rozgar Mela held on October 29, PM Modi distributed 51,000 appointment letters. On that occasion, the Prime Minister remarked that the government was creating new opportunities to make it easier for Indian youth to get jobs abroad.

Citing the recently released Germany’s Skilled Labour Strategy for India, PM Modi informed that Germany had increased the number of visas given to skilled Indian youth every year from 20,000 to 90,000. He added that India’s youth will benefit greatly from this.

PM Modi also mentioned that India had signed agreements related to migration and employment with 21 countries in recent years, including countries like Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Mauritius, Israel, the UK and Italy, apart from the Gulf countries.

A total of 71,000 appointees each were given letters in Rozgar Mela edition number 2, 3, 4 and 5. In the sixth (June 13) and seventh editions (July 22), 70,000 appointment letters each were distributed by the PM.

In the eighth edition of Rozgar Mela, held on August 28, 2023, 51,000 job letters were distributed. A total of 51,000 appointment letters each were distributed in the ninth, 10th and 11th editions of Rozgar Mela held earlier last year.

The highest number of 1 lakh appointment letters were distributed in the 12th edition of Rozgara Mela held on February 12.

On that occasion, the PM highlighted the Budget announcement of about 1 crore rooftop solar plants and said this scheme will create lakhs of new jobs.

–IANS

rch/uk

Wasting time discussing Rahul Gandhi: Amruta Fadnavis’ mocking response to allegations

Mumbai, Dec 24 (IANS) Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in response to his allegations over the death of Dalit man Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi.

Suryawanshi, a 35-year-old Dalit man, died in judicial custody on December 15 after being arrested in connection with violence following the desecration of a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

Responding to Gandhi’s claims, Amruta Fadnavis told IANS mockingly, “I think you are wasting your and my time discussing Rahul Gandhi with me. There are various things… There are people with brains. It is better to talk about them.”

Rahul Gandhi visited Parbhani, the hometown of Suryawanshi, and met his family. He described the incident as “100 per cent a murder” and accused the police of custodial violence. He further alleged that Suryawanshi was targeted for being a Dalit and for his efforts to protect the Constitution. “The police have beaten him… murdered him in custody. He was killed because he was a Dalit. He was beaten and finished off,” Gandhi stated emphatically.

He also accused Chief Minister Fadnavis of lying in the state Assembly, suggesting the CM aimed to protect the police by denying any wrongdoing in the case.

Amruta Fadnavis also addressed the ongoing debate about the establishment of a Sanatan Board. Responding to a question from IANS, she remarked, “Under legal and government guidelines, if such a trust is formed with proper rules, then there is no problem in it. After all, we are all Sanatanis.”

This discussion gained momentum after a Tripura minister suggested the creation of a Sanatan Board for Hindus, drawing parallels with the Waqf Board for Muslims. He also proposed separate boards for Christians and Sikhs, sparking widespread debate.

Commenting on the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) recently launched ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’, Amruta Fadnavis acknowledged the initiative’s potential to economically empower women. The scheme offers a monthly allowance of Rs 2,100 to eligible women. “This is a good scheme. It’s a positive step to empower women economically,” she said. However, she added, “There is a need to work towards ensuring that women can stand on their own feet in the long term.”

The AAP has already begun registering beneficiaries for this initiative, which aims to provide financial support to women and foster economic independence.

–IANS

skp/uk