Russia reaffirmed on Sunday its support for Yemen’s internationally-recognized government fighting against the Iran-backed Houthi-led insurgency and expressed its readiness to adopt any role that serves peace. On the ground, government forces advanced in the Kataf area north of the Saada province, the Rahda front north of Lahij and the northern front in Al Bayda. Army forces also secured the government compound in al-Zaher. The stronghold seized is only kilometers away from the main Houthi militia center in the Maran district of the neighboring Hidan directorate, Yemeni army field sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. Meanwhile, Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi affirmed that Yemen is undergoing a process of transformation and faces both local and regional difficulties. Hadi met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the 29th Arab summit hosted by the Kingdom. He relayed his country’s appreciation of Russias support for Yemen and the process of political transformation based on the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue conference and relevant United Nations resolutions, namely resolution 2216. The meeting was held within the framework of consultation and exchange of ideas that are intended to stabilize and restore peace and security for Yemen and its people, Yemen’s news agency Saba quoted Bogdanov as saying. It reported that Bogdanov expressed Russian readiness to play a peace-serving role. He reiterated Moscow’s support for Yemen and its constitutionally-elected government and noted current preparations for commemorating in November the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Yemeni-Russian relations. The Yemeni-Russian meeting coincided with continued Yemeni military operations, backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, on various fronts. Pro-government forces made vital advances on the fronts of Saada, Al Bayda, Lahij, Taiz, Nihm and Al Jawf. Intense airstrikes carried out by coalition forces on Houthi militia pockets in more than one area aided the army’s push.