RIYADH: The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said on Monday that 220 Houthi militants were killed in airstrikes on Shabwa province, Saudi state TV reported. The coalition added that 29 military vehicles were also destroyed during 38 operations targeting the Iran-backed Houthi militia over the last 24 hours. In a separate statement, the coalition said it had carried out 11 other operations targeting the Houthis in Marib, killing 50 fighters and destroying seven vehicles. Meanwhile, pro-government forces in Yemen backed by the coalition said they had seized control of the northern oil-rich Shabwa province from the Houthis rebels. The pro-government Giants Brigade announced in a statement the “liberation of the district of Ain” after a 10-day assault, which it said had been the last area of the province left in Houthi control. The militia began a major push to seize the government’s last northern stronghold in Marib and Shabwa last February and, after a lull, they renewed their offensive in September, when they seized districts in Shabwa. But the Giants Brigade, a force of an estimated 15,000 fighters, had launched a pushback, announcing last month that troop reinforcements had been sent to bolster positions in Shabwa. “All the districts of the province of Shabwa have been totally liberated,” the statement added. “We thank the heroes of the Giants Brigade... and we thank the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the support of the United Arab Emirates.” (With AFP)