Government troops sever rebels’ supply line into Hodeidah city
Yemeni troops cut rebel supply lines from Sanaa and Ibb province to the Houthi occupied port of Hodeidah on Friday.
The main government offensive to liberate Hodeidah was paused at the start of July to allow time for UN-led mediation. A Houthi delegation has refused to attend peace talks that began last week.
“The pro-government forces have been advancing deep into Houthi territory amid a fierce battle to capture the port of Hodeidah,” Aseel Al Sakladi, spokesman for the pro-government Al Amalikah Brigade, told The National.
There has been no official announcement of a renewed offensive to capture the city, but a source in the Yemeni government delegation in Geneva downplayed the clashes as part of operations around Hodeidah. He said the fighting was started by the Houthis.
Lt Gen Hamad Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, yesterday visited units taking part in the operation to wrest Hodeidah from Houthi occupiers.
He was briefed on Friday’s engagements and the progress of the battle to liberate Hodeidah Governorate.
Lt Gen Al Rumaithi conveyed the appreciation of the UAE leadership for the feats of arms by troops to liberate the Yemeni people, state news agency Wam reported.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said on Friday that the delay in talks showed the Houthis’ lack of commitment to a political solution to the war.
The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognised government of President Adrabu Mansur Hadi.
The main focus of Friday’s fighting was around key Houthi supply lines into Hodeidah as government troops sought to prevent reinforcements and supplies getting to rebel militias holding the city.
“The pro-government forces imposed fire control over Kilo 16, an intersection that links Sanaa, Hodeidah, Taez and Aden,” Lt Shafiq Al Makraee, a commander of the pro-government Al Amalikah division, said.
“The route is considered a vital one for the Houthis because their military supplies come over from Sanaa and Ibb province to the north of Hodeidah.”
Lt Al Makraee said government forces were within two kilometres of the intersection, but were able to effectively severe the supply line with firepower.
Col Ahmed Al Julaihy, the operations staff officer in Al Amalikah’s second brigade, told the military-run news website 26
September that forces backed by Arab Coalition aircraft were close to cutting all Houthi supply routes from Sanaa, Ibb and the province of Raiymah to the north of Hodeidah.
The only supply route remaining open to the Houthi militia is in Al Saleef, north-east of Hodeidah, which is going to be under the army fire soon,” Col Al Julaihy said.
In Friday’s push, pro-government forces took control of large areas to the east of Al Duraihimi near Kilo 16, Mr Al Sakladi said.
The central command of the Arab Coalition notified civilians to stay away from Kilo 16 and not use the road until notified the area was safe. Residents inside the city told
The National that Houthi militias have been digging a large network of trenches to the south of Al Marawyah district in eastern Hodeidah as a line of defence to slow the pro-government forces should the offensive restart.