UAE claims to take coastal city from Yemen’s Houthis

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA, Qatar (AA) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s armed forces have captured the coastal city of Al-Khokha in Yemen’s western Hudeidah province from the Houthi militia, the UAE’s official WAM news agency reported on Thursday.

The news agency quoted an unnamed military source as saying that Al-Khokha had been “completely liberated from the Iran-backed Houthi militia”.

“Yemeni resistance fighters, backed by UAE forces operating within the framework of the [Saudi-led] Arab coalition staged an advance early Wednesday and liberated the coastal area from the grip of the Houthis,” WAM reported.

It did not provide any additional details on the military operation or whether it had resulted in any casualties.

Houthi officials, for their part, have yet to comment on the UAE’s claims.

The UAE is a leading member of a Saudi-led Arab coalition that has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.

Yemen has remained in chaos since 2014, when the Shia Houthi militia group overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies have waged a devastating military campaign aimed at reversing the Houthis’ territorial gains and shoring up Yemen’s pro-Saudi government.