Aden, Ramadan 11, 1439, May 27, 2018, SPA -- The Yemeni national army has made great strides on the ground after fierce battles in the province of Hijja, inflicting the Iran-backed Houthi militias considerable losses in humans and equipment, it was officially reported here today. A statement issued by the information center of the 5th military region said that the army launched a surprise offensive against the Houthis' sites eastern the directorate of Midi, northern Hijja province, and tightened its grip on that vast area. The statement said the Houthi side inflicted dozens of deads and several injuries with three taken captives, two of them injured and rushed to Saudi-run hospitals. The army siezed several light and medium weapons left in the field by the fleeing Houthis. --SPA 23:19 LOCAL TIME 20:19 GMT 0034 www.spa.gov.sa/w694905