Yemen forces set to lay siege to Hodeida port

REINFORCEMENTS BEING SENT TO ENSURE SURRENDER OF AL HOUTHIS WITHOUT FIGHT

Yemeni forces are preparing to surround a key Red Sea port in a bid to force Al Houthi militia to surrender it without a fight, army sources said yesterday.

The troops backed by the UAE and Saudi forces are sending reinforcements ahead of a “new operation” to enter Hodeida city and seize its port, a commander said.

Hodeida port is the main conduit for humanitarian aid into Yemen, where years of war have left some 22 million people in need of food aid.

Colonel Sadiq Al Duwaid, spokesman for the National Resistance, one of three main forces taking part in the operation, said it was “being bolstered by new forces... that will take part in retaking Hodeida”.

“First, we will cut off supply lines, especially between (militia-held capital) Sana’a and Hodeida, then we will place the Al Houthis under siege and bring them down, perhaps without a fight,” he said.

In an interview with WAM, Al Duwaid said that the liberation of Hodeida is in accordance with a military plan, which the members of the Al Houthi militia are not expecting. A crushing and overwhelming defeat awaits them on the Red Sea coast of Yemen, he told WAM.

Troops are now 13km from Hodeida, Ahmad Al Kawkabani, who leads a force known as Tihama Brigade, told The Associated Press.

“As long as the sons of Hodeida are fighting, they will enter the city no matter what.” The coalition plans to ensure that the port keeps running without interruption, Al Kawkabani said.

Colonel Sadiq Al Duwaid, spokesman of the National Resistance in Yemen, has emphasised that the Yemeni Resistance Forces in all their formations and with the strong participation and support of the UAE Armed Forces operating within the Arab Coalition, have advanced to the outskirts of Hodeida city, less than 15 kilometres from the city and 11 kilometres from its airport.

He said it was achieved in a qualitative and well-planned military operation, which deprived the Al Houthi militia loyal to Iran of its ability to withstand and remain stationed on the ground amid a mass fleeing of their commanders from the first rank towards the mountains and a state of defeat and refraction in their ranks.

Military plan

In an interview with the Emirates News Agency, WAM, Al Duwaid added that the liberation of Hodeidah is in accordance with a military plan, which the members of the Al Houthis were not expecting.

A crushing and overwhelming defeat awaits them on the Red Sea coast of Yemen against heavy military equipment with the participation and support of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition fighter jets, armoured vehicles, tanks and artillery in addition to massive military reinforcements in preparation for the final battle to get rid of the militias and defeat the coup plan in Yemen in record time.

He also pointed out that the Yemeni Resistance forces continue to tighten the screws on the remaining elements of the militias in the Tahita, Zubaid and Al Jarrahi districts while Al Houthi gunmen fled from the liberated Red Sea coast.

This follows their overwhelming defeat, leaving behind equipment and weapons, and the deaths of hundreds at the hands of the Yemeni Resistance amid accelerated progress towards Hodeidah Airport which is close to liberation.

The spokesman pointed out that more than 93 elements of the Al Houthi militias were killed, including field commanders who have been managing battles during confrontations with the Yemeni Resistance Forces in the past 48 hours.

Coup nearing end

He added that the forces were able to capture dozens of members of the militia and Al Houthi leaders are realising the coup is nearing its end following the progress of the coalition and the Resistance Forces towards Hodeidah and its strategic port.

He indicated that Hodeidah city is currently staging a massive popular uprising against the Al Houthi militias and their terrorist practices that affected the Yemeni people opposed to the coup.

“The people of Hodeidah are eagerly waiting for the coalition and the Resistance Forces to liberate the city and rid them of the forces of tyranny and aggression,” he stated.

He asserted that the mines planted by the Al Houthi militias will not deter the National Resistance Forces from advancing towards Hodeidah city and its port, both of which are now a stone’s throw away.

Mines planted

“The militias are continuing to plant mines in an arbitrary manner that shows the state of panic among their ranks. The resistance engineers have managed to dismantle hundreds of mines in preparation for the salvation battle,” he added.

He said that the Iran-backed militias have been losing ground and their ranks have seen an unprecedented collapse and as a result, the coalition and Resistance Forces are making rapid advances towards Hodeidah city and its seaport.

The Resistance Forces, he noted, have seized large quantities of Iranian-made mines, munitions and weapons, which they found during the combing operations, after defeating the militia who fled the battlegrounds en masse.

“The Al Houthi militias have been dealt successive fatal military blows by the Resistance Forces who are on their way to liberate the Hodeidah port and cut off the lifeline of weapons smuggled from Iran,” he added.

“The liberation of Hodeidah city will teach the Al Houthis a tough lesson through a surprise, decisive qualitative military operations after destroying the militias’ main defences and enforcement, which they count on, on the Red Sea coast,” he said.

The people of Hodeidah are eagerly waiting for the coalition and the resistance forces to liberate the city and rid them from the forces of tyranny and aggression,”

Colonel Sadiq Al Duwaid | Spokesman of the National Resistance in Yemen