On June 16, the Saudi-led coalition and its Yemeni proxies captured the al-Hudaydah airport, south of the port city, along the western Yemeni coast, according to the UAE-based al-Arabiya TV. Yemeni sources said that heavy clashes between the coalition and the Houthis are currently taking place north of the airport.
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A day earlier, the Saudi-led coalition managed to reach the southern entrance of the airport after conducting more than 300 airstrikes on the Houthis’ positions and troops there. Sources in the Saudi-backed forces claimed that 255 fighters of the Houthis were killed and 500 others were injured since the beginning of the coalition attack on the airport.
Meanwhile, the Sky News Arabia TV reported that the Saudi-led coalition and its proxies repelled an attack of the Houthis on their positions in the district of al-Tuhayat, 65km south of al-Hudaydah. According to the TV station, coalition forces killed 35 fighters of the Houthis and captured 80 others during the clashes in the district.
Once the airport of al-Hudaydah is secured, the Saudi-led coalition will begin advancing towards the city itself. Unlike the open areas around the airport, the urban areas inside al-Hudaydah may allow the Houthis to organize an effective defense.
Photos from the port of al-Hydaydah:
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