Saudi-led Arab coalition steps up offensive in Taiz

Saudi-led coalition forces are stepping up their offensive against Houthi rebels to retake Taiz. Popular resistance fighters have joined the coalition in the operation, with forces attacking Houthi militia in both Taiz and on three other fronts across the province. This comes after Yemen’s exiled president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi returned to Aden today to oversee the offensive. Taiz is seen as the gateway to the capital, which has been held by rebels since September 2014. Military officials say that the capture of the city would be the first step to the liberation of the capital Sanaa.