A new round of heavy fighting has erupted around the vital aid port of Hodeidah in the past 24 hours, according to residents. The fighting outside the city has seen exchanges of fire along the main highway connecting Hodeidah to Sanaa.
The United Arab Emirates is sending Apache helicopters to attack any vehicles belonging to the Shi’ite Houthi movement, while Houthi forces are firing artillery at the pro-Saudi, pro-UAE faction’s advancing fighters.
The Saudi coalition has warned civilians to avoid any Houthi gatherings, and say that a new offensive will be launched in the next two weeks including thousands of Sudanese ground troops to seize the port outright.
Hodeidah is the port through which 70% of aid into the country flows. This includes virtually all food for the northern parts of the country. If the city falls, the Houthis will hold no ports, and there will be no way of getting food into their territory, leading to predictions of a famine effecting millions.
The Saudis can’t advance without massive numbers of foreign mercenaries. That shows how moved to support the Saudi invasion the typical Saudi subject is.
No doubt plenty of US trained (by taxpayers) mercenaries too.