Government to free ‘every inch’ of Yemen

COALITION-SUPPORTED FORCES PUSH AGAINST AL HOUTHIS IN HODEIDA

Yemen’s government will liberate “every inch” of the country from Iran-allied Al Houthi militants, Vice-President Ali Moshen Al Ahmar has said.

Supported by a Saudi-led coalition, Yemeni government forces have intensified their military campaign against Al Houthis this week after the collapse of UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva.

Gen. Al Ahmar added that the internationally recognised government is pressing ahead with the liberation process “until the state’s control is imposed on every inch of Yemen”.

He made the remarks during a meeting in Riyadh with commander of the First Border Guard Brigade Haikal Mohammad, who briefed the vicepresident on the progress of the military campaign against Al Houthis, Yemen’s official news agency Saba reported.

Over the past few days, the government loyalists, supported by the coalition, have closed in on the Red Sea city of Hodeida and its crucial harbour.

The Yemeni army has pushed against Al Houthis in the district of Kilo 16, seen as a gateway to Hodeida, military sources said yesterday. Troops overran fortified positions of Al Houthis in the area, which came under the full control of the government forces earlier this week, the sources added.

Strategic district

Kilo 16 is strategically important because it links Hodeida to rebel-held Sana’a. The complete control of Kilo 16 will allow government forces to cut off a main militia supply road from Sana’a and forge ahead towards Hodeida.

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

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

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

Coalition jets had carried out a series of strikes against Al Houthi fighters in the central province of Ma’rib, the news portal September Net linked to the Yemeni Defence Ministry reported yesterday.