SANAA (Debriefer)--The Houthi group on Thursday announced the defection of 25 pro-government soldiers from the Marran Command in Saada province, including three chiefs from the 3rd Oroubah Brigade stationed in the area of Al-Khoubah.
A reception for chief of staff of the Brigade Col. Abbas Al-Sad'e, his deputy Ammar Al-Harbi and deputy chief of the manpower of the brigade Maj. Mohfuz Al-Madyah was held in the capital Sanaa, the Houthi-run Saba news agency reported.
The defected officers and soldiers benefited from a pardon issued by president of the Houthi supreme political council, Mahdi Al-Mashat, the agency said.
The group renewed in 2019 a general pardon it granted in 2016 to every civilian or military who stopped supporting or participating in a Saudi-led military operation in Yemen.
Last week, the group said 16 pro-government soldiers defected and were received in Dhamar province.
The government has not commented on the defections.
The Houthis ousted the government and seized power and the capital Sanaa in September 2014. Their takeover sparked an armed conflict which has caused the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
