Fighting in Hodeidah after coalition closes in
Yemen
The crucial Yemeni port of Hodeidah was hit by fierce streetto-street fighting yesterday as Saudi Arabia and its allies attempted to take control of the city before supposed ceasefire talks next month.
People have described grim scenes in the two weeks since the Trump administration gave all sides 30 days to ‘‘get round the table’’. Hundreds of fighters on both sides and an unknown number of civilians have been killed in the latest burst of fighting.
Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary, will travel to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, today to call for a return to the Unsponsored peace process. As well as King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he will meet the effective leader of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed.
‘‘We are witnessing a manmade humanitarian catastrophe on our watch,’’ Hunt said. ‘‘Now is the window to make a difference and to get behind both the UN peace process and current UK efforts in the security council.’’
Two hospitals are now on the front line as the pro-government forces backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE advance into the city. The May 22 hospital was attacked by coalition forces after it was occupied by rebel troops. They withdrew but were said to have retaken it last night. It was unclear whether patients remained inside the building.
The al-thawra Hospital, which is treating scores of children for malnutrition and other life-threatening conditions, was still on the rebel side of the lines but in a parlous situation.
The Saudi coalition seems to scent for the first time that it could actually achieve victory if it ignores demands for restraint and pushes on despite the intensity of the fighting and its earlier claims that it intended to surround, not capture, the city.
A report by the consultancy IHS Markit said that the coalition was now likely to be able to capture the city. – The Times