Coalition asks US to stop refuelling jets
Forces liberate Hodeida hospital and push into the heart of the city
An Arab coalition fighting in Yemen said yesterday it had requested the US to stop refuelling its jets in the war-torn country, citing its capability to do the job.
The alliance, led by Saudi Arabia, added in a statement that the coalition countries have recently enhanced their own aircraft refuelling in Yemen. “In view of this and in consultation with allies in the US, the coalition has requested the American side to halt air refuelling of its planes in the current operations in Yemen,” the alliance added.
The kingdom has 23 planes for refuelling operations devoted to the Yemen offensive, while the UAE has six.
The US welcomed the decision.
Meanwhile, the coalitionbacked push into Hodeida, which has claimed the lives of 382 combatants, mostly Al Houthis, this month, was close to gaining control of the port. Yemeni officials said pro-government forces had captured the May 22 Hospital.
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Yemen’s information minister said a top official in the Al Houthi administration has fled the country and defected to neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
Muammar Al Iryani said yesterday that the top Al Houthi information official, Abdul Salam Ali Gaber, arrived in Saudi Arabia with his family after they fled Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, which has been under rebel control since 2014.
Ali Gaber is the most senior member of Al Houthi administration to defect.
The Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, has been fighting Iran-allied Al Houthi militants in Yemen since 2015 in response to a request from the country’s internationally recognised government.
Earlier this month, Yemeni forces, supported by the Arab coalition’s air power, started a major operation to liberate the strategic port city of Hodeida from Al Houthis.
The forces have since made swift advances into the western city. A pro-government force known as Al Amalika, or the Giants, has taken full control of the May 22 Hospital in the eastern part of Hodeida, news portal September Net, linked to the Yemeni Defence Ministry, reported.
Al Houthi militiamen had blown up large parts of the hospital, causing massive damage, according to the report. The militants had earlier taken up positions on the hospital rooftop before they lost it.
Government military experts ■ Government troops’ advance Hospital UN premises UN warehouse
Red Sea
Diameter: Range: Accuracy: Great Mosque Castle Fishing port University Al Houthis have unveiled artillery rocket capable of hitting targets in Saudi Arabia within 130km-range, including King Khalid Air Base defused dozens of explosives planted by Al Houthis around the hospital to hamper the coalitionbacked forces, the army said.
Meanwhile the United States has welcomed the Arab coalition decision to refuel its aircraft in Yemen using its own fleet.
“We support the decision by Gulf of Aden 300km 200 miles Kilo 16 junction 3km
Steer rocket towards target. Rocket likely uses GPS guidance system Soviet-made launcher, part of air-defence system the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, after consultations with the US government, to use the coalition’s own military capabilities to conduct in-flight refuelling in support of its operations in Yemen,” US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said, according to AP.