ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sporadic fighting erupted early Friday between Yemeni government forces and members of the Houthi group in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, a military official told Xinhua.

The military source said on condition of anonymity that "a group of Houthis attackers attempted to advance toward the military locations of joint pro-government forces in Hodeidah's eastern outskirts."

He added that "the joint pro-government forces confronted the Houthi attack and sparked intense clashes that continued for hours."

Residents in Hodeidah confirmed to Xinhua that both warring sides used heavy weapons and exchanged artillery shelling as well as mortars.

Resumption of the fighting in the strategic port city of Hodeidah created panic among the residents who are living in conflict-affected areas.

On Friday dawn, the Saudi-led coalition involved in a war in Yemen destroyed some "hostile targets" in the north part of Hodeidah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The operation was carried after the coalition intercepted and destructed a remote-controlled booby-trapped boat in the south of the Red Sea on Thursday.

The coalition spokesperson Turki Al Maliki said that the targets pose a threat to regional and international security.

Following the aerial bombardment, the Houthi group said through their al-Masirah TV the airstrikes breached a UN-brokered cease-fire deal that reached in Stockholm last year to halt fighting in Hodeidah, saying they are ready to confront "any possible military escalation."

Hodeidah is the main Yemeni port city on the Red Sea and key entry of most Yemen's commercial imports and humanitarian aid.

Iran-allied Houthis control much of Hodeidah while the Saudi-backed government troops have advanced to the southeastern districts. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)