Feb. 2: The Coalition Inches Closer to Sanaa

The coalition march on Sanaa continues unabated. Forces loyal to President Abd Rabboh Mansour Hadi took control of a major Yemeni Republican Guard base northeast of Sanaa on Feb. 1. The base is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the edge of Yemen's capital city. Though pockets of Houthi fighters are scattered throughout the large military complex, the clearance operation is well underway, heavily supported by Saudi-led coalition air power. Coalition air support, which included the use of Emirati Mirage aircraft in the ground attack role, aided the advance on the base and the subsequent break-in battle. Over the past few days, coalition forces gained control of the mountaintops overlooking the complex, putting Hadi's forces in a dominant, elevated position. From there, it was a case of coordinating the assault and overpowering the Houthi defenses. ...