Saudi-led coalition warplanes pounded a key supply city for the Houthi forces in Yemen as the Hadi-backed fighters continue to rely on recently introduced military equipment to make gains in the ongoing conflict.
Yemen’s exiled President Hadi in Saudi Arabia last month. Photo via SPA.
Warplanes hit the Houthi-controlled Red Sea port of Hodeida on Tuesday, destroying cranes and warehouses in the main entry point for aid supplies to Yemen’s north, according to Reuters. Rival factions also battled further south overnight in Yemen’s third city, Taiz, Arab television stations reported, as local militias opposed to the Houthis attempted to consolidate recent advances on it.
The violence was not just isolated to inside of Yemen. Two Saudi soldiers were killed along the border by a missile fired from inside war-torn country.
Meanwhile, Houthi-backed forces stormed the UAE embassy in Aden, drawing sharp criticism from the Saudi-backed coalition that includes the Emirates as a major backer. Earlier this month, UAE tanks were seen rolling into Yemen in footage confirming a ground presence by the coalition.
The gains made by coalition forces come as the U.S. military is reportedly stepping up its support role for airstrikes into the Kingdom, according to a Los Angeles Times report. The Pentagon more than doubled the number of American advisors to provide enhanced intelligence for airstrikes, giving an increased edge to the attacks.
