Offensive on Yemen port halted as UAE backs peace talks

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Pro-government forces temporarily halted an offensive on the Yemeni port of Hodeida on Wednesday, as support grew for UN peace talks in the coming weeks.

Military officials told AFP news agency that forces loyal to Yemen's government were "ordered" to stop their assault against the Iran-linked Huthi rebels until further notice, but would resume operations should the insurgents attack.

At the same time, the United Arab Emirates, a key member of the pro-government coalition, welcomed the "early convening of UN-led talks in Sweden," with UAE state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, urging warring factions to take advantage of diplomatic efforts.

The UN is pushing for peace talks by the end of the year, and Sweden said it is ready to host them.

Nearly four years into the war, there has been an increase in international pressure to end the fighting in Hodeida, whose docks are the entry point for some 80 percent of food imports and humanitarian aid into impoverished Yemen.

Yemeni pro-government forces advance towards central Hodeida, as they continue to battle for the control of the city held by Huthi rebels, November 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

The UN has warned an attack on the port, which the Huthis seized in 2014, would be "catastrophic."

On Wednesday, World Food Programme chief David Beasley, who is visiting the country, said up to 14 million Yemenis were on the brink of starvation, and 18 to 19 million were now "food insecure".

"Conditions on the ground are extremely, extremely bad," he told the BBC. "Bottom line, we need for this war to end."

After 12 days of clashes, Hodeida was "quiet" and its port was "operating", Gargash tweeted.

Speaking to AFP, military officials said pro-government forces had stopped their advance to allow safe passage for civilians, humanitarian staff and wounded, but warned they would be launching major operations "in the coming days".

On Tuesday, a Huthi spokesman had told a news conference broadcast on the rebels' Al-Masirah TV that they were ready for "war in the streets" of Hodeida.

The port is under a near-total blockade by Saudi Arabia and its allies, who accuse Iran of smuggling arms to the Huthis. Tehran denies the accusation.

According to UN figures, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the coalition joined the conflict in 2015 to bolster President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, triggering what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

(Cover: Yemeni pro-government forces advance towards the port area of Hodeida, as they continue to battle for the control of the city controlled by Huthi rebels, November 7, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP