The chief of staff of the Yemeni army has survived a landmine explosion in the northern al-Jouf province. Brigadier General Taher al-Aqeeli suffered minor injuries in the explosion, which happened on Friday while he was inspecting government positions in Khub wa al-Shaaf, the largest district in al-Jouf province, a senior military official said. Aqeeli had a minor fracture in his leg and some bruises, the Yemeni armed forces’ media office quoted the official as saying. Meanwhile, Arab coalition airplanes launched several raids on Houthi insurgent targets in Sirwah of Marib Governorate. The Yemeni army’s website said an air raid targeted a Houthi weapons depot, triggering several blasts and sending smoke into the sky. Coalition planes also targeted a gathering of Houthi fighters south of Sirwah, leaving several casualties. President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi said the government was keen on providing all types of support to the national army and al-Jouf province. He made his remarks during a telephone conversation with al-Jouf governor Amin Ali al-Okaimi who briefed him on the military developments in the province and the victories achieved by the national army, the official Yemeni news agency reported. Hadi hailed the achievements made by the national army in “clearing the province from the militias backed by Iran, which caused corruption, killed women and children and indiscriminately destroyed infrastructure,” the agency said.