Yemeni troops take strategic Kilo 10 area; cuts off Sana’a

HODEIDA LIBERATION KEY TO ACHIEVING POLITICAL SOLUTION IN YEMEN, GARGASH TWEETS

Yemen’s pro-government forces yesterday said they have seized control of a strategically important area near Hodeida from Al Houthis and cut off a major militia supply route linking the coastal city to the militant-held capital Sana’a.

The Al Amalaqah Brigades added in a statement that its forces have recaptured the district of Kilo 16 on the eastern edge of Hodeida in western Yemen. The Saudi-backed forces also seized a second supply route around Hodeida, known as Kilo 10, earlier yesterday, military sources said.

The joint Yemeni Resistance Forces, led by the Al Amalaqah Brigades, have taken control of the Kilometre 10 area. The Al Amalaqah Brigades inflicted heavy losses on the lives and material of Al Houthi militias in a surprise operation, with dozens being killed or wounded and many others being taken captive.

The joint Yemeni Resistance Forces, backed by the Arab Coalition forces, launched a large-scale military operation from the eastern axis of the Al Duraihmi District towards the Kilometre 16 area. The operation was planned so as to protect the safety of civilians, including those being used by Al Houthis as human shields.

The coalition campaign to expel Al Houthis from Hodeida was temporarily halted in support of UN envoy Martin Griffiths’ efforts to revive Yemen’s longstalled peacemaking and to induce the extremists to peacefully withdraw from the city.

Hard blow to peace bid

Griffiths’ bid suffered a hard blow when Al Houthis stayed away from the Geneva consultations, which were scheduled for September 6.

The non-start of the talks has re-ignited military escalation in Yemen’s war of nearly four years.

Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said yesterday that liberation of Hodeida is vital to push Al Houthis to “constructively engage” in the political process. “The Houthi NO SHOW at the Geneva peace process is further proof that the liberation of Hodeida is what is needed to bring them to their senses & constructively engage in the political process,” Gargash tweeted in English.

“Our argument stands that a change in the calculus is essential for a successful political solution in Yemen,” he added.

AFP UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammad Thani Al Rumaithi at a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council armed forces chiefs of staff and the commander of the US Central Command in Kuwait City yesterday. The meeting discussed the twin challenges of the destabilising actions of Iran and violent extremist organisations in the region.