Yemeni fighters beat back Saudi push in eastern Hudaydah

Yemeni forces have pushed back a large-scale assault by militants and mercenaries on the port city of Hudaydah, a source in the so-called Saudi coalition has told Agence France-Presse.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have deployed about 10,000 new troops to Yemen's west coast after repeated campaigns to seize Hudaydah were thwarted by Ansarullah and their allies in the Yemeni army. 

After 11 days of clashes, Saudi-backed militants say they have now reached residential neighborhoods in Hudaydah's east, sparking fears of street fights that would further endanger civilians trapped in the city. 

Medics and military sources were quoted as saying Monday that nearly 150 people had been killed in 24 hours of clashes, including several civilians.

Based on a tally provided by AFP, 110 protectors of the city and 32 invaders were killed overnight. A military official in Hudaydah confirmed seven civilians deaths, without giving further details.   

Ansarullah fighters and their allies, however, have pushed back the massive offensive to occupy Hudaydah, the news agency admitted, citing a source in the coalition as saying. 

Residents said that Yemeni snipers had taken positions on rooftops in eastern Hudaydah, a few miles from the port on the western edge of the city, in preparation for street battles.

Battle-hardened Ansarullah fighters and their allies are expected to fare better in street battles. To overwhelm them, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are most likely to resort to heavy bombing of the city in order to pave the way for ground advances.   

SS