THE United Arab Emirates, whose troops have played a major role in a Yemeni government offensive against the port city of Hodeida, said today it is ready to support diplomatic efforts to secure a rebel withdrawal.

But, it said, the pullout must be unconditional and from the whole city, and not just its vital docks, the entry point for three-quarters of Yemen’s imports.

“The coalition will achieve its goal, which is to free the city, including the port,” said Anwar Gargash, the UAE state minister for foreign affairs, in a tweet, referring to a Saudi-led coalition that intervened in support of the Yemeni government in 2015.

“In the meantime, it will support all efforts to secure a peaceful and unconditional withdrawal by the rebels.”

UAE-backed government forces launched their offensive against Hodeida on June 13, and on Wednesday, overran its disused airport after deadly fighting with the rebel garrison.

Today, the airport continued to come under mortar fire from adjacent rebel-held neighbourhoods in the south of the city. Government forces have responded against the source of the fire.

United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths, who held abortive talks in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, last weekend, is continuing “consultations with all sides to avoid a military confrontation in Hodeida and return rapidly to the negotiating table”, said his office.

The rebels have said they are willing to share control of Hodeida’s port with the UN, but vowed that their forces will remain in the docks and the rest of the Red Sea city.

The coalition alleges that the port has been used by the rebels as an entry point for weapons smuggled from its arch-foe, Iran. – AFP, June 23, 2018.