Government-allied forces leave Yemeni city, rebels re-enter

SANAA, Yemen — Forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government have withdrawn from the strategic port city of Hodeida, allowing the rebels to retake key positions there, Yemeni officials and the United Nations said.

The development was a setback to the U.N.-brokered cease-fire in 2018 that ended fighting over Hodeida. The deal was seen as an important first step toward ending the broader conflict in

Yemen, devastated by years of civil war, but was never fully implemented.

The pro-government militias, founded and bankrolled by the United Arab Emirates and known as Joint Forces, said late on Friday that they redeployed troops from Hodeida because there was no need for them to stay in the city after the 2018 deal.

The UAE is part of the Saudi-led coalition that has been waging war against the Iran-backed rebels to restore the internationally recognized government to power.

The Joint Forces also said the rebels, known as Houthis, repeatedly violated the 2018 deal.

On Saturday, security officials and residents said the rebels rounded up dozens of people they accuse of supporting the government.

Meanwhile, other progovernment forces that now remain in Hodeida, repelled a Houthi attack south of the coastal city, the officials said. At least three pro-government troops, including a field commander, were killed, they added.