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Yemen's Houthis mark 8th anniversary of Sanaa takeover

In a new display of military power, the Houthis used helicopters for the first time to commemorate the 8th anniversary of their capture of Sanaa.

Yemeni scouts participate in an official parade marking the eighth anniversary of the Houthi takeover of Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 20, 2022.
Yemeni scouts participate in an official parade marking the eighth anniversary of the Houthi takeover of Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 20, 2022. — Mohammed Huwais/AFP via Getty Images

SANAA, Yemen — Helicopters were flying at a low altitude in the sky of Sanaa Sept. 21, a scene not witnessed by Yemenis since 2015. The helicopters, this time, were not on a military mission or transferring soldiers from one place to another; they dropped small packages containing chocolate, raisins and leaflets.

The Iran-allied Houthi group operated the helicopters to commemorate the eighth anniversary of their takeover of Sanaa. On Sept. 21, 2014, Sanaa fell to the group's fighters who were armed with Kalashnikovs and mortar shells. Today, they fly helicopters.

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