Battle of Al Hudaydah

Battle of Al Hudaydah
Part of the Yemeni Civil War
, the Al Hudaydah offensive
, and the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen

Hadi Government's advance in 2018 of the al Hudaydah offensive
  Hadi Government control
  Houthi control
DateFirst phase: 13–22 June 2018
(1 week and 2 days)

Second phase: 9–16 September 2018
(1 week)

Third phase: 1–27 November 2018
(3 weeks and 5 days)
Location14°48′08″N 42°57′04″E / 14.80222°N 42.95111°E / 14.80222; 42.95111
Status

Strategic Houthi victory

  • The UAE announces a pause to the military operations on 23 June 2018, because of UN-brokered talks[5]
  • The battle resumed on 9 September 2018 after peace talks collapse due to Houthi absence in Geneva peace talks.[6][7]
  • A UN-brokered ceasefire was agreed upon on 13 December 2018, giving both parties 21 days to fully withdraw their troops from the city[8]
  • In January 2019, the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement begins
  • Pro-government forces withdraw from the city in November 2021, ceding control of Al Hudaydah to the Houthis[9]
Territorial
changes
  • Saudi-led coalition claims capture of territory around Hodeida International Airport from Houthi militants on 16 June 2018[10] and the capture of the airport itself on 20 June 2018[11][12]
  • Houthis recapture the airport,[13] or at least parts of it, by 22 June,[14] with the Saudi-led coalition positioned five kilometers from the facility[15]
  • Saudi-led coalition forces seize control of key Houthi supply routes from Al Hudaydah to Sana'a on 11 September[6]
  • Houthis reclaim the city and its surrounding towns[9]
  • Belligerents

    Yemen Cabinet of Yemen

     United Arab Emirates
     Sudan[1]
    Southern Resistance
     Saudi Arabia
    Supported by:
     France
     United States
    Alleged Support:
     Israel (by the Houthis)[2]

    Yemen Supreme Political Council

    Alleged Support:
     Iran[3][4]
    Commanders and leaders
    Tareq Saleh Abdul-Malik al-Houthi
    Units involved

     Yemen

    Southern Resistance

     United Arab Emirates

     Sudan

     France

    Houthis

    Strength
    c. 25,000[26]
    c. 1,500 troops[27]
    1,000[27]–10,000[26]
    Casualties and losses
    28 Yemeni soldiers killed (per medical sources, airport battle, by 21 June)[17]
    4 Emirati soldiers killed[28]
    90+ killed (per Houthis, 15 & 28 June)[29][30][31]
    22 killed (per Coalition & medical sources, 9–13 Sep.)[32][33]
    126 killed (17 Sudanese, per medical sources, 1–12 Nov.)
    [34][35][36][37][38]
    156 killed (per medical sources, airport battle, by 21 June)[17]
    250 killed (per Coalition, 13 June)[39]
    148 killed (per medical sources, 9–16 Sep.)[33][40][41]
    70 killed (per Coalition, 17 Oct.)[42]
    479 killed (per medical sources, 1–12 Nov.)
    [35][36][37][38]
    348 combatants killed (per medical sources, by 21 June)[43]
    170 combatants killed (per medical sources, 9–16 Sep.)[32][33][40][41]
    600 combatants killed (per medical sources, 1–12 Nov.)[38]
    616 civilians killed (1 Aug.–15 Oct., 1–12 Nov.)[38][44][45]
    Battle of Al Hudaydah is located in Yemen
    Battle of Al Hudaydah
    Location within Yemen

    The siege of Al Hudaydah (Arabic: معركة الحديدة, translit. Ma‘rakat al-Hudaydah), codenamed Operation Golden Victory,[17] was a major Saudi-led coalition assault on the port city of Al Hudaydah in Yemen. It was spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and has been considered as the largest battle since the start of Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen in 2015.[46][47]

    Beginning on 13 June 2018 and aiming to dislodge Houthi forces from the port, the objective of the assault was to recapture the city of Al Hudaydah and end the alleged supply of funds, weapons, and ballistic missiles to the Houthis through Al Hudaydah port.[48][49] The Houthis counter by saying that they are defending Yemen from a US backed invasion.[50]

    As the port plays the crucial role of delivering over 80 percent of food and aid to Yemen, several humanitarian agencies warned of catastrophic humanitarian consequences.[51] The United Nations warned that the battle could threaten the lives of 300,000 children in the populated area and prevent food delivery to millions or more.[52] The UN has made various attempts and efforts to take over the control of Al Hudaydah port from Houthis and move it under its jurisdiction.[53] The Houthis has said they are not against UN role and agreed to grant the UN "a role of supervision" on the condition the coalition withdraw from the offensive but said they won't withdraw from the city.[25][54] Amid international pressure, the coalition promised the strategy of not entering any populated areas of Hudaydah, but work to isolate the Houthis by cutting their supply lines.[55] Multiple reports indicate that the battle has exacerbated the humanitarian situation in Yemen.[56][57][58][59]

    A UN-backed ceasefire agreement between the Hadi-led government and the Houthis was officially declared in December 2018 in Sweden with terms of troop withdrawal of both warring parties from Al Hudaydah.[60] The deal was never fully implemented, with Hadi-led forces accusing the Houthis of repeated ceasefire violations, and Houthi forces refusing to withdraw in 2019.[61][62]

    Pro-government forces eventually withdrew from the city in 2021, ceding control of Al Hudaydah to the Houthis.

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    2. ^ انصارالله: توقف تجاوزگری علیه الحدیده دروغ است/ متجاوزان به‌دنبال راه‌حل سیاسی نیستند - اخبار تسنیم - Tasnim. خبرگزاری تسنیم - Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 3 July 2018.
    3. ^ Coker, Margaret; Schmitt, Eric (13 June 2018). "Humanitarian Crisis Worsens in Yemen After Attack on Port". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
    4. ^ "Battle starts for lifeline Yemen port". BBC News. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
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    7. ^ Nebehay, Stephanie (8 September 2018). "Yemen peace talks collapse in Geneva after Houthi no-show". /www.reuters.com. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
    8. ^ "Yemen: ceasefire agreed for port city of Hodeidah". www.theguardian.com. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference takeover was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    10. ^ "Saudi-led forces seize airport in Yemen city of Hodeidah". Associated Press. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
    11. ^ "Saudi, UAE coalition enters airport compound of Yemen's Hudaida". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
    12. ^ "Saudi-led coalition seizes Yemen's Hodeidah airport, fears for population grow". Reuters. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
    13. ^ "Fog of war clouds Hodeidah airport as media disagree about who controls site". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
    14. ^ Fitch, Asa (8 July 2018). "With Much at Stake in Yemen Port, Coalition Puts Advance on Hold". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
    15. ^ "Yemen: Coalition forces consolidate positions near Hodeidah Airport". 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
    16. ^ "Tareq Saleh Leads 'Republican Guards' against Houthis on Yemen's West Coast". Asharq Al-awsat. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
    17. ^ a b c d e "Fog of war clouds Hodeidah airport as media disagree about who controls site". Middle East Eye. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
    18. ^ Mohammed Ghobari (20 June 2018). "Saudi-led coalition seizes Yemen's Hodeidah airport, fears for population grow". Reuters. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
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    21. ^ "المقاومة التهامية : دور محوري للقوات الإماراتية في تحرير الساحل الغربي" [Tihamah Resistance: The Emirati Forces have a pivotal role in the liberation of the West Coast]. al Khaleej. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
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    23. ^ Georges Malbrunot Journaliste - Sa biographie (15 June 2018). "Yémen : la France prête à déminer le port d'al-Hodeïda". Lefigaro.fr. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
    24. ^ Cite error: The named reference YMCDC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    25. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SRC statement was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    26. ^ a b Sondos Asem (21 June 2018). "What you need to know: The battle for Hodeidah". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
    27. ^ a b "Who are the Yemeni ground forces fighting in Hodeidah?". thenational.ae. 14 June 2018.
    28. ^ alaraby.co.uk (13 June 2018). "Four Emirati soldiers killed in Yemen: UAE". Al Araby.
    29. ^ المسيرة نت صاروخ "توشكا" يضرب تجمعات الغزاة والمرتزقة في الساحل الغربي "محدّث" (in Arabic). Almasirah.net. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
    30. ^ تدمير بارجة و331 آلية ومدرعة ومقتل وجرح مئات المرتزقة خلال 3 أسابيع من التصعيد في الساحل الغربي. www.almasirah.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
    31. ^ "مصرع أكثر من 50 مرتزقا وتدمير 18 آلية ومدرعة لقوى العدوان بالساحل الغربي". www.almasirah.net. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
    32. ^ a b 62 killed as Saudi-backed Yemeni troops push into Hodeidah
    33. ^ a b c agencies, The New Arab & (13 September 2018). "Yemeni civilian lives 'hang in balance' in Hodeida: UN". alaraby. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    34. ^ "South Darfur receives bodies of 17 militiamen killed in Yemen - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". sudantribune.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    35. ^ a b "AFP.com". AFP.com. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    36. ^ a b AFP (10 November 2018). "Fierce fighting for Hodeida leaves 110 Houthis, 22 pro-govt troops dead". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
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    38. ^ a b c d "AFP.com". AFP.com. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    39. ^ "A Saudi-led coalition warship was struck and 250 Houthi fighters were reportedly killed in assault on Yemeni city". Business Insider.
    40. ^ a b "84 dead in fighting in Yemen's Hodeidah after talks fail". Dhaka Tribune. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
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    47. ^ Ghobari, Mohammed; Mokashef, Mohamed; Shalal, Andrea; Miles, Tom. Lawrence, Janet (ed.). "Civilians flee bombardment as Arab states pound Yemen port". Reuters. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki has said operation "Golden Victory" aimed to wrest control of the port and airport, but that troops would avoid entering the city.
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    49. ^ Nissenbaum, Dion; Stancati, Margherita (13 June 2018). "Yemeni Forces, Backed by Saudi-Led Coalition, Launch Assault on Country's Main Port". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018.
    50. ^ Ghobari, Mohammed. "Arab states launch biggest assault of Yemen war with attack on main..." U.S. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
    51. ^ Cite error: The named reference guard1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    52. ^ "Assault on key Yemeni port would endanger 300,000 children and 'choke off' aid for millions more: UNICEF chief". UN News. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
    53. ^ "AU.N. In Talks To Take Over Administration Of Strategic Yemeni Port City". Kaiser Family Foundation. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
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    58. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    59. ^ "Access to water continues to be jeopardized for millions of children in war-torn Yemen". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
    60. ^ "U.N-Brokered Hudaydah Truce Is Big Step in Yemen War". The New York Times. 13 December 2018.
    61. ^ "Yemen's Houthis re-enter Hodeidah after gov't-allied forces leave". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
    62. ^ "Yemen's Houthi rebels refuse to withdraw from Hodeidah ports, hinder Stockholm agreement - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.

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