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Monday, 18 June, 2018 - 11:00
United Arab Emirates State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash stated on Monday that the Yemen legitimate forces’ operation to liberate Hodeidah province and its strategic port was aimed at pressuring the Iran-backed Houthis to withdraw from the city and avoid civilian casualties.
The "Hodeidah port operation will continue unless rebels withdraw unconditionally," he told a press conference in Dubai.
The legitimate forces, supported by the Saudi-backed Arab coalition, launched operation Golden Victory to recapture Hodeidah last week.
Gargash hoped Martin Griffiths, the UN special envoy who arrived back in Sanaa on Saturday, could convince them to cede control of the major Red Sea port.
“We are still counting on the UN attempt to pull a rabbit out of a hat,” the minister said.
"If this does not happen, be assured we are determined to achieve our targets," he vowed. "This is not the time to negotiate,” he added, saying that the Houthis’ days in Hodeidah “are numbered.”
Gargash reiterated accusations that Iran was using Hodeidah port to smuggle sophisticated arms to the Houthis, including ballistic missiles, scores of which have been fired on Saudi Arabia.
The "Iranian fingerprint is all over these arms," he said.
Moreover, he revealed that France offered a mine-sweeping vessel, but was not involved in the offensive.
The Houthis have planted thousands of mines throughout Yemen in violation of international laws.
Over the weekend, the legitimate forces captured Hodeidah airport from the Houthis. The fleeing militias planted in their wake mines to slow down the Yemeni advance.
On Monday, Apache helicopter gunships fired at Houthi snipers and other fighters positioned on the rooftops of schools and homes in the Manzar neighborhood abutting the airport compound, according to local residents.
https://aawsat.com/english/home/art...nditional’-houthi-withdrawal-yemen’s-hodeidah
United Arab Emirates State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash stated on Monday that the Yemen legitimate forces’ operation to liberate Hodeidah province and its strategic port was aimed at pressuring the Iran-backed Houthis to withdraw from the city and avoid civilian casualties.
The "Hodeidah port operation will continue unless rebels withdraw unconditionally," he told a press conference in Dubai.
The legitimate forces, supported by the Saudi-backed Arab coalition, launched operation Golden Victory to recapture Hodeidah last week.
Gargash hoped Martin Griffiths, the UN special envoy who arrived back in Sanaa on Saturday, could convince them to cede control of the major Red Sea port.
“We are still counting on the UN attempt to pull a rabbit out of a hat,” the minister said.
"If this does not happen, be assured we are determined to achieve our targets," he vowed. "This is not the time to negotiate,” he added, saying that the Houthis’ days in Hodeidah “are numbered.”
Gargash reiterated accusations that Iran was using Hodeidah port to smuggle sophisticated arms to the Houthis, including ballistic missiles, scores of which have been fired on Saudi Arabia.
The "Iranian fingerprint is all over these arms," he said.
Moreover, he revealed that France offered a mine-sweeping vessel, but was not involved in the offensive.
The Houthis have planted thousands of mines throughout Yemen in violation of international laws.
Over the weekend, the legitimate forces captured Hodeidah airport from the Houthis. The fleeing militias planted in their wake mines to slow down the Yemeni advance.
On Monday, Apache helicopter gunships fired at Houthi snipers and other fighters positioned on the rooftops of schools and homes in the Manzar neighborhood abutting the airport compound, according to local residents.
https://aawsat.com/english/home/art...nditional’-houthi-withdrawal-yemen’s-hodeidah
