Al Hudaydah offensive
In December 2017, forces aligned with Yemen’s Hadi government launched an offensive against the Houthis in Al Hudaydah Governorate. As of February 2018, the pro-government forces have captured the towns of Khokha and Hays.
Course of Events
Pro-Hadi government troops entered Al Hudaydah Governorate on the night of 6-7 December, and drove Houthi fighters from the town of Khokha.[1] The attacking force reportedly included Emirati tanks, and loyalists of the late President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had been killed by the Houthis earlier in the month.[2].
On 10 December, pro-government sources claimed that the Houthis were collapsing before the advancing forces, and had lost control of the district of Hays, alongside part of al-Tahita.[3] However, on 20 January, clashes occurred on the outskirts of Hays,[4] and as of 28 January, the Houthis were in control of the town, having planted mines and blown up a bridge in order to stall the government’s ongoing offensive.[5]
On 5 February, the government’s troops re-entered Hays, with the fall of the town being confirmed the following day. At least thirty Houthis and eight loyalists were reportedly killed in the battle, in which the government was supported by heavy coalition airstrikes.[6] UNHRC announced on 9 February that, since the beginning of December, 61,000 people had been displaced from the frontline governorates of Taiz and Al Hudaydah, representing 71 percent of all people displaced within Yemen during that time period.[7]
References
- ^ "Yemen government recaptures Red Sea town from Houthi rebels". The New Arab. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ Spencer, Richard (12 December 2017). "Saudi forces begin port assault with new Yemeni allies". The Times. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ Seif, Islam (10 December 2017). "Yemeni army seizes Hays district in Hodeidah with coalition backing". al Arabiya. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Yemen's Houthis 'help prisoners escape in exchange for joining fight'". al Arabiya. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ Al Batati, Saeed (28 January 2018). "Al Houthis attempt to stall Hadi forces in Hays". Gulf News. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Yemen loyalists retake southwestern town from rebels". Middle East Eye. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "85,000 people displaced in 10 weeks as hostilities rage across Yemen". UNHCR. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.