Forces set to resume Hodeida offensive
But UN envoy says rivals have strong desire to restart talks
The Yemeni government forces, backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, are expected to resume their Hodeida offensive this week, the pro-government news portal Aden Al Ghad reported, quoting an unnamed military official.
It said the Iran-backed Al Houthis are believed to have taken advantage of the pause in the coalition offensive against Hodeida to entrench themselves in the embattled city.
Al Houthis’ presence in Hodeida, their mismanagement and neglect of the port and its facilities, as well as their seizing of essential humanitarian supplies have contributed to worsening of the humanitarian situation.
Meanwhile, UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths said yesterday that the warring parties in the country have a “strong desire” to restart peace talks.
“I am reassured by the messages I have received, which have been positive and constructive,” he said after a three-day visit to Sana’a.
The Dubai-based television station Al Arabiya, citing military sources in Aden, reported that further reinforcements had been sent to boost government loyalists on the West Coast front amid reports that Al Houthis are beefing up their fortifications inside Hodeida.
The Hodeida onslaught is expected to resume this week, the pro-government news portal Aden Al Ghad reported, quoting an unnamed military official.
Al Houthis are believed to have taken advantage of the pause in the coalition offensive on Hodeida to entrench themselves in the embattled city.
Al Houthis have been in control of Hodeida since October 2014, a month after they overran Sana’a in a coup against the internationally-recognised government.
In recent weeks, government forces, backed by coalition jets, have pressed ahead with a multi-front campaign against Al Houthis in Yemen.
Yemeni forces retook control of strategic positions from Al Houthis in the south-western provinces of Taiz and Lahej
With support of the Arab Coalition, the pro-government forces liberated the strategic Jebel Al Halqum south of Taiz as well as Al Karb, Sbeet, and Rakiza mountains in Tor Al Baha, the Emirati news agency WAM reported.
By recapturing the Karb and Sbeet Mountains, the progovernment forces have taken control of a large number of villages and areas of Tor Al Baha District, north of Lahej, where weapons and munitions were found following the escape of Al Houthis.
The forces are advancing to retake the Jalis Mountain north of Lahej from Al Houthis, WAM reported.
In 2015, the Saudi-led coalition, to which the UAE is a main partner, initiated a campaign in Yemen against Al Houthis after the militants advanced on Aden, the temporary capital of the country after their takeover of Sana’a.
Meanwhile, the UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, said he recently had “fruitful” talks with militant leader Abdul Malek Al Houthi. Griffiths started a visit to Sana’a on Monday, his second in less than a month.