Houthi leaders divided on Hodeidah’s handover – Sources

Differences are emerging among Houthi leaders on a suggestion by UN envoy Martin Griffiths for the Iran-backed militia to leave the western Yemeni port city of al-Hodeidah without fighting the Arab coalition which is close to controlling the city any way, informed sources revealed Sunday.

Some Houthi leaders, the sources said, believe that resistance to the advancing coalition forces will be a mere waste of time.

The sources added that the same leaders call for picking up Griffiths’ suggestion and handing over the city in return for some guarantees they did not specify.

Other Houthi leaders, the sources said, believe the handover of the city or fighting to the end until defeat would herald the total destruction of the Houthi militia.

The sources, which requested anonymity, said Houthi spokesman Mohamed Abdel Salam declared the failure of Griffiths’ mission in al-Hodeidah and rejection by his group of his initiative, against the background of the aforementioned differences among Houthi leaders. 

Houthi leaders rejecting the handover of the city are certain that Houthi militants cannot hold their own ground against advancing Arab coalition troops, but still hope some help would come from outside, the sources said.

They also hope, the same sources added, that deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the city would put pressure on the Arab coalition.

Griffiths, who arrived in Yemeni capital Sana’a on Saturday, reportedly insists to meet Houthi leader Abdel Malak al-Houthi to discuss with him his initiative for the Houthi handover of al-Hodeidah.

Griffiths hopes that the Houthi handover of the city would be the beginning of the political settlement of the conflict in Yemen.

Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi praised victories scored by the coalition so far within the ongoing operation for the liberation of the port city from Houthi control.

The Yemeni president met representatives of the coalition on Sunday and praised the heroism of troops participating in the operation.

The Red Crescent of the United Arab Emirates distributed, meanwhile, humanitarian aid to areas liberated from Houthi control.