Local Yemeni authorities in the coastal governorate of Taiz announced that a police officer, who was kidnapped over a week ago, was released.

Provincial military police said it was handed back Brigadier General Jamal al-Shamiri, who was abducted by an outlawed group en route to performing the Umrah pilgrimage in neighboring Saudi Arabia. 

During his time as a hostage, Shamiri was taken to an unknown location. 

Separately, fierce clashes continue to rattle Yemen’s southern Ad Dali’, Lahij and Qa’atabah districts. 

Yemeni army forces and the popular resistance, backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, advanced towards a number of towns and outposts held by the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

“Houthis continue to carry out criminal acts by turning citizens’ homes and residential neighborhoods into militia hideouts, in an attempt to impede the progress of pro-government forces towards the Ibb governorate,” the pro-government Giants Brigades said in statement.

Arab coalition fighter jets pounded Sunday morning a number of militia targets west of Ad Dali’, killing and injuring a number of Houthi militiamen and destroying armored vehicles operated by the coupists. 

In the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, the militants continued to scale up offensives in blatant violation of the UN-sponsored ceasefire in place. 

Locals reported militants targeting civilian neighborhoods in southern Hodeidah with rocket and sniper fire. 

In the Tahita region, Houthi militants opened assault rifle and sniper fire, injuring a young Yemeni girl named Malak Abdo Musseib. 

According to her father, she was shot in the head by sniper fire while playing next to her home. 

Musseib, 8, was taken to a hospital in the interim capital Aden in very critical condition to receive treatment for her life-threatening injuries.