Hudaydah's liberation principal mission for Arab coalition – UAE analyst

The liberation of the airport, maritime port and the city of al-Hudaydah will be the principal mission of the ongoing military operation by the Saudi-led Arab coalition in the western Yemeni city, a United Arab Emirates political analyst said Thursday.

The mission is the most important since the start of Operation Decisive Storm by the coalition in Yemen in 2015, Maged al-Raesi added.

He noted in televised remarks that the mission acquires greater importance thanks to the strategic location of al-Hudaydah and its port, almost the largest in Yemen.

"The Houthi militia uses the port in smuggling arms into Yemen," al-Raesi said. "The Houthis also receive financial supplies from their international sponsors through the port."

The United Nations Security Council is due to hold a closed meeting on Yemen later on Thursday at the request of the UK.

The meeting will mainly focus on the repercussions of the ongoing operation in al-Hudaydah.

Yemen's Resistance Forces, which are backed by the Arab coalition, started the operation to liberate al-Hudaydah in early June.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia overran the city in 2015.