Yemeni forces tighten grip on Hodeida airport
AL HOUTHIS TARGET CIVILIANS AFTER SUFFERING HUGE LOSSES IN OFFENSIVE
The Yemeni Joint Resistance forces, supported by the UAE Armed Forces operating as part of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition Forces, yesterday tightened their control on an airport in the coastal city of Hodeida, an army commander said.
The coalition launched last week a massive offensive aimed at liberating Hodeida from the Iran-aligned Al Houthi militants, who have been in control of the Red Sea city since late 2014.
“The joint forces, with support from the coalition, have imposed their complete control on the Hodeida airport,” said commander of the Western Coast front Abu Zara Al Muharmi in media remarks.
Dozens of Al Houthi militiamen were killed in the assault and a large number of fighters fled the airport compound leaving behind their injured fighters.
The Yemeni Joint Resistance Forces also took control of the village of Al Manzar, west of Hodeida airport — where Al Houthi militants were holed up.
Al Houthis have planted mines in large parts of the sprawling airport, located some 10 kilometres from the vital Hodeida harbour.
Military experts from the coalition forces were conducting a demining operation in the
airport, according to reports. Coalition forces said the Al Houthis have directly targeted civilian populations in the Tehama region, northwest of Hodeida.
The militias were deliberately targeting civilians and residential areas in direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, coalition forces said adding that the Al Houthis have broken international norms of protecting civilians in times of war. The coalition has called on the international community to put pressure on Al Houthis to stop their violent and illegal acts against the Yemeni people.
Yemeni Government forces, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, yesterday tightened their control on an airport in the coastal city of Hodeida in western Yemen, an army commander said.
The Arab coalition launched last week a massive offensive aimed at liberating Hodeida from Iran-aligned Al Houthi militants.
“The joint forces, with support from the coalition, have imposed their complete control on the Hodeida airport,” said commander of the Western Coast front Abu Zara Al Muharmi in media remarks.
He added that the coalition supported forces have stormed the airport after fierce clashes with Al Houthis. “The remaining pockets of Al Houthis are being hunted inside the airport,” he added.
The Joint Yemeni Resistance Forces captured dozens of Al Houthi gunmen holed up inside the airport premises and the buildings. Dozens of militia gunmen were killed, including field commanders during the raid.
The engineering teams affiliated with the Arab coalition and the Joint Resistance began clearing the airport and its surrounding areas of mines and improvised explosive devices planted indiscriminately by the militia to delay the advance of troops.
The militants escaped en masse from the airport, leaving their injured behind, Dubaibased television channel Al Arabiya reported.
Coalition forces said the retreating Al Houthis have directly targeted civilian populations in the Tehama region, northwest of Hodeida.
The militias were deliberately targeting civilians and residential areas in direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, coalition forces said adding that the Al Houthis have broken international norms of protecting civilians in times of war. The coalition has called on the international community to put pressure on Al Houthis to stop their violent and illegal acts against the Yemeni people.
Columns of smoke were seen rising from the airport as Coalition aircraft flew overhead.
The takeover of the airport clears the way for the government forces to push towards the harbour and the city’s centre.
The coalition has ramped up its attacks on Al Houthis after the militants this week wrecked peace efforts by UN envoy Martin Griffiths who met them in the capital Sana’a over the weekend.
The militants, who also control Sana’a, refused proposed safe withdrawal from Hodeida and its harbour in order to end the coalition campaign on the city and revive a long-stalled peace process.
Hodeida, a city of around 600,000 people, is strategically important because its harbour is a lifeline for millions of Yemenis, as most of the commercial imports and relief supplies enter through it to the country.
The coalition accuses Al Houthis of taking advantage of their control of the port to obtain weapons from their Iranian patrons as well as confiscate aid intended for Yemenis in order to sustain their war efforts.
Al Houthis have been in control of Hodeida and Sana’a since their late 2014 coup against the internationally recognised government.
Rights to be protected
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has confirmed that it will continue its efforts to enhance and protect human rights and cooperate continuously with international human rights mechanisms, particularly the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, special procedures and international treaty committees, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
Dr Abdul Aziz Al Wasel, Saudi Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said in a speech delivered at the Human Rights Council yesterday that the call for the universality of human rights does not mean the imposition of values and cultures that contradict Arab and Islamic identity, culture and values. He stressed the Kingdom’s stand with many countries against attempts to apply double standards of human rights.
The Joint Yemeni Resistance Forces captured dozens of Al Houthi gunmen holed up inside the airport premises and the buildings. Dozens of militia gunmen were killed, including field commanders during the raid.