Al Houthis reject Hodeida handover

Government troops backed by coalition forces have resumed offensive on port city

Yemen’s Iran-allied Al Houthi militants have refused a UN proposal to withdraw from Hodeida and its crucial port in order to stave off an all-out battle over the coastal city, the Dubaibased television Al Arabiya reported yesterday.

Instead Al Houthis proposed to jointly manage Hodeida and its harbour with the UN whereas a Saudi-led Arab coalition has blatantly rejected.

The coalition, which entered the war in 2015 to help restore the internationallyrecognised government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, has demanded the full-handover of the city and the port to the Yemeni government.

The coalition has vowed to resume its offensive to liberate the city if talks fail and on yesterday, the news portal Aden Al Ghad reported that the pro-government Giants Brigade stormed the district of Al Tahita in Hodeida in western Yemen and seized large parts of it.

Dozens of Al Houthis were killed in the fight, the news site added.

Al Houthis’ rejection of a complete pull-out comes after UN envoy Martin Griffiths concluded a three-day visit to militant-held Yemeni capital Sana’a where he met Al Houthi leaders, hoping to negotiate a resolution to the standoff.

The coalition accuses Iran of smuggling weapons through the Hodeida port into Al Houthi hands. Its capture is expected to tip the scales of war in favour of the Yemeni government.