Iran-backed Houthis negotiate with UN over surrender of Hodeidah
The United Nations’ Yemen mediator is in talks with the Iran-backed Houthis to hand over control of Hodeidah port in an attempt to avert an assault on the city by a Saudi-led coalition, Yemeni political sources said.
Martin Griffiths arrived in Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital, on Saturday as coalition-backed troops moved to within 10 kilometres of the Red Sea port, local military officials said, adding that the advance had paused in the past few days.
“He comes with a proposal for the Houthis to place Hodeidah port under UN supervision,” said a senior Yemeni politician close to the internationally recognised government of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, who is in exile.
A source close to the Houthi movement confirmed that the proposal was being discussed as did a second source close to Mr Hadi’s government.
International aid agencies have warned that a major battle for Hodeidah, with a 400,000 population, could lead to a bloodbath and shut down a port that handles most of Yemen’s commercial imports and critically needed aid supplies.
Mark Lowcock, UN emergency relief co-ordinator, said yesterday that the UN was in touch with several UN member states about Hodeidah.
The Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and of which the UAE is a member, is battling to return areas captured by the Houthi rebels to the Yemeni government.
The coalition is just miles from the centre of the city but the Iran-backed rebels have dug in, waging guerrilla attacks against coalition forces.
Losing Hodeidah would deal a serious strategic blow to the rebels.
Last week, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, said that victory over the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was close.
Meanwhile, unidentified forces attacked a UN aid vessel off the main Yemeni port of Hodeidah at the weekend and started a fire in the engine room, port authorities said yesterday.
The UN aid chief, Mr Lowcock, confirmed that there had been an incident but said it was now over and all were safe, without giving any further details.
The vessel used by the UN’s World Food Programme was attacked after delivering a shipment at Hodeidah, Yemen’s Red Sea Ports Corporation said.
Aid agencies warn a battle for Hodeidah, with a 400,000 population, could lead to a bloodbath