Houthi rebels clash with pro-government military coalition in Yemen’s Hodeida city; 149 lives claimed in 24 hours

Hodeida, Yemen: At least 149 people including civilians have been killed in 24 hours of clashes between government loyalists and rebels in Yemen’s flashpoint city of Hodeida, medics and military sources said Monday. A military official in Hodeida confirmed seven civilians had died, without giving further details. The Red Sea port city, controlled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels since 2014, is a vital entry point for aid into the impoverished country. [caption id=“attachment_5536031” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Houthi Shiite rebels inspecting the rubble of the Republican Palace that was destroyed by Saudi-led airstrikes, in Sanaa, Yemen. AP[/caption] A source in Yemen’s pro-government military coalition, which is backed by a Saudi-led military alliance, said the Houthis had pushed back a large-scale offensive aimed at moving towards Hodeida port. Medics in hospitals across the city reported 110 rebels and 32 loyalist fighters killed overnight. Sources at the Al-Alfi military hospital, seized by the rebels during their 2014 takeover, said charred body parts had been delivered there overnight. Military sources confirmed that the Saudi-led alliance had targeted the rebels with multiple air strikes. Nearly 600 people have been killed since clashes erupted on 1 November in Hodeida, one of Yemen’s most densely populated cities. Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the Yemeni government’s fight against the Iran-backed Houthis in 2015, triggering what the UN now calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The Hodeida port is a vital lifeline for aid deliveries to Yemenis across the war-torn country, where 14 million people face imminent famine. The port has been under blockade by the Saudi-led coalition for a year. The alliance accuses Iran of smuggling arms to the Houthis through the Hodeida port. Tehran denies the charges.