Houthi militia changed in their techniques in Mokha, west of Taiz, from defense to attack after the decline of airstrikes carried out by the Arab Coalition in battles. Houthis have seized control over the surrounding sites of Jabal an-Nar, east of Mokha, after the Yemeni forces have gained control of parts of surrounding sites. Jabal an-Nar is considered as the first defense line of Khalid bin Walid camp extending from the Mokha until the Directorate of Mauzea near Mokha. The Khaled bin Waled camp is about 50 km from the city of Mokha. The camp has a huge arsenal of weapons which provides supplies for the Houthis in Hodeidah, Taiz, Mokha and Western districts of Taiz.
Huthi forces have made limited progress in Yakhtel, 12 km away from the city of Mokha, as well as Zharri area in the province of Hodeidah. The Arab Coalition carried out limited raids on Houthi positions surroundings Mokha and destroyed Hamli Bridge, linking between the city of Taiz and Mokha and pass through Houthi supplies.
Yemen's deputy army commander has been killed in a missile strike by Houthi rebels on a Red Sea army camp, Maj Gen Ahmed Saif al-Yafei is said to have died in the attack outside the port city of Mokha.
His death will be seen as a major setback for government forces, which are backed by a Saudi-led coalition. The Yemeni government has yet to recapture the capital, Sanaa, after two years of civil war.
Maj Gen Yafei was killed along with several others when the missile hit the army camp near Mokha early on Wednesday, the military source, who is also a member of the general's family, told Reuters news agency.
The coalition, which has received logistical and intelligence support from the US, UK and France, has been fighting the Houthis and forces loyal to a former Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, since March 2015. Its aim is to restore the internationally recognised government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
The troops fighting "rebels" in Taiz local forces, with military leaders from the same province, while troops fighting in the Bab al-Mandab and Mocha forces from the southern provinces. They have received training and support from UAE, as well as air coverage from the coalition, and this is what local forces lacking in Taiz.