Houthis Deploy 1,000 More Fighters to Hodeidah

Arab World

November 28th, 9:59am

Jeddah- Saeed al-Abyad

Damaged vehicles are seen at a military site hit by a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi movement in the Red Sea port city of al-Mokha, Yemen November 7, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer

Yemeni government officials revealed that the number of coup militia fighters in the city of Hodeidah has risen to about 3500 fighters, all of which are deployed in vital sites and all nearby state institutions. The spike in the number of deployed militants came after Houthis were able to relocate some 1,000 fighters, all of whom are underage, from the northern side of the city. Houthi actions do not appear to be moving towards peace and implementing the mechanisms of the ceasefire agreed upon in Hodeidah, known as the Stockholm agreement. Hodeidah Deputy Governor Walid Al-Qadimi, in a phone interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, said that Houthi militias have intensified their military operations in Hodeidah city over the past few days. The Iran-backed militia deployed snipers heavily on high-rise buildings and worked to cut off main streets. According to Qadimi, the militias also blocked the city’s corniche. These moves have helped the armed group impose its control over movement in the city. The militia's actions, Qadimi said, relay an important message to the international community that Hodeidah cannot be overlooked. The city is perceived as a main source of income for militias and a route for smuggling weapons and oil derivatives. This indicates that Houthis will in no way cede the city under the agreement. Among the many questionable behaviors that threaten the ceasefire was Houthis firing missiles and drones at the Red Sea port city of al-Mokha, causing deaths and injuries and damaging a hospital. “The Houthi militia backed by Iran ... (used) ballistic missiles and exploding drones. Most of them were intercepted and some fell on residential areas, a displaced persons camp and a health center run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF),” the pro-coalition joint military command of the western coast said in a statement, without mentioning whether military targets had been hit.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2012041/houthis-deploy-1000-more-fighters-hodeidah