Yemen govt forces in full control of Mokha
aden — Yemeni government forces took full control of the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha on Friday after weeks of deadly fighting with Houthi rebels and their allies, a spokesman said.
Before the 19th Century, Mokha was Yemen’s main port and export hub for coffee grown in the highlands and its historical symbolism meant it was fiercely fought over.
“We have done with the Battle of Mokha,” armed forces spokesman Mohammed Al Naqib said, adding that the rebels had been forced to flee the town.
Another loyalist military source confirmed that government forces were in “full control”.
The rebels had put up fierce resistance in the town. Twentyfour rebels and eight loyalist troops were killed in fighting on Wednesday alone.
Tens of thousands of civilians were trapped in the fighting. Many of them had sought refuge in Mokha after fleeing their homes in towns to the south as government forces pushed up the coast. —
aden — Yemeni government forces took full control of the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha on Friday after weeks of deadly fighting with rebels and their allies, a spokesman said.
“We have done with the Battle of Mokha,” armed forces spokesman Mohammed Al Naqib said, adding that the rebels had been forced to flee the town.
Another loyalist military source confirmed that government forces were in “full control”.
The rebels had put up fierce resistance in the town. Twenty-four rebels and eight loyalist troops were killed in fighting on Wednesday alone.
Tens of thousands of civilians were trapped in the fighting. Many of them had sought refuge in Mokha after fleeing their homes in towns to the south as government forces pushed up the coast.
Government forces had already taken Mokha’s docks earlier this month but there was heavy fighting in other parts of the town before the rebels withdrew north towards Hodeida, which they still control.
“We now preparing for the second phase of the battle for the coast, which is to advance towards Hodeida,” the loyalist armed forces spokesman said. Before the government launched its offensive on January 7, the rebels controlled virtually all of Yemen’s 450km Red Sea coastline. — AFP