Saudi-led strikes on Yemen port, fears for civilians: U.N.

by Dramelin 3:30 AM 0 comments

GENEVA The Saudi-led coalition has intensified air strikes on the Yemen port of Hodeidah, potentially trapping civilians and endangering a humanitarian operation to import vital supplies, the United Nations human rights office said on Friday. "Civilians were trapped during the fighting (in al-Mokha), there are real fears the situation will repeat itself in the port of Hodeidah where air strikes are apparently already intensifying," Rupert Colville, U.N. human rights spokesman, told a Geneva news briefing. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Tom Miles) Yemeni government forces backed by Gulf Arab troops have secured the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, held by Iran-allied Houthi fighters for two years, the United Arab Emirates news agency WAM reported on Tuesday, in a push that paves the way for an advance on the country`s main port city of Hodeidah.