TOPSHOT – This image grab taken from a AFPTV video shows Yemeni pro-government forces firing a heavy machine gun at the south of Hodeida airport, in Yemen’s Hodeida province on June 15, 2018. / AFP / AFPTV /
On November 2, the Saudi-led coalition deployed a new force specialized with urban warfare along the western coast of Yemen as part of its preparations to launch an attack on the Houthi-held city of al-Hudaydah, according to the al-Arabiya TV.
Furthermore, the UAE-based channel reported that Apache attack helicopters of the coalition began attacking vehicles and positions of the Houthis on the roads leading to al-Hudaydah. Heavy clashes were also reported south of the key coastal city.
These steps show that the coalition is still determined to attack al-Hudaydah, despite the recent international pressure on Saudi Arabia. Earlier, this week the U.S. called for a ceasefire in Yemen and said that it will work to hold peace talks within 30 days.
The oil-rich kingdom likely sees the attack as a way to pressure the Houthis ahead of the talks. However, observers doubt that the coalition will manage to make any significant advance on the ground, as the Houthis had already repelled several similar attacks this year.
