Saudi-Led Coalition Says Redeployment In Yemen Meant To Boost Other Fronts

A view of a building damaged by clashes is seen on the outskirts of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, Yemen November 13, 2021
A view of a building damaged by clashes is seen on the outskirts of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, Yemen November 13, 2021

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Monday a redeployment of its forces from the western coast was meant to back Yemeni government forces on other fronts.

Yemeni forces under a Saudi-led coalition said on Friday they had withdrawn from around the main Red Sea port of Hodeidah held by their foes the Houthis to help deter the Iran-aligned group's advances in other parts of Yemen.

A UN monitoring mission on Monday called on Yemen's warring parties to hold new talks over Hodeidah as the Saudi-led coalition strafed areas south of the port city, where Houthi fighters advanced in the wake of withdrawing coalition forces.

The air strikes, which began on Sunday, were the first since late 2018 when the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned Houthis agreed a U.N.-sponsored pact for a truce in Hodeidah and a troop redeployment by both sides that never materialized.

The coalition said on Monday it carried out 11 operations "outside the areas covered under the Stockholm pact" to support west coast forces, Saudi state media reported.