Asharq Al-Awsat:Hadramout21
Determined to double down on civilian oppression in Hodeidah and west coast areas, Houthi militias prevented residents from fleeing coup-controlled zones for government liberated areas and cut off Internet services in most of the country’s west coast
This came at a time Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr confirmed coup militias’ continued rejection of all peace efforts
PM Daghr went on promising that Hodeidah and all west coast areas being on the verge of a new era after Iran-aligned militias are driven out by government forces and allies
Remarks made by Daghr coincided with a host of local and regional humanitarian campaigns along with government measures aimed at alleviating damage to the liberated areas south of Hodeidah
Most aid efforts aimed at providing necessary relief support and enhancing preparedness for sustaining any repercussions arising from military operations expected to resume
Houthi militiamen, for the second day in a row, blocked residents from moving into government-controlled areas, forcing hundreds of Yemenis to remain in insurgency-run area, Hodeidah-based eyewitnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat
Witnesses also confirmed that tens of internally displaced families have been blocked en route to Aden
Escaping Taiz for Aden, families were forced by coup militants to take a retour and head for Sanaa, Ibb or Dhamar
Iran-backed Houthi militias are believed to be largely planning to set up internally displaced person (IDP) camps in areas under their control for future recruitment and fueling of their war effort
According to human rights monitors and activists who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, Houthis are seeking to bargain on the suffering of displaced persons for halting military operations led by the government forces and the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to retake Hodeidah strategic port from coupist militias
Militiamen were also cited as responsible for cutting of water supplies off most Hodeidah neighborhoods
Houthis have also dug up random trenches under the port city’s infrastructure and cut off main streets and roads leading to the port with concrete and dirt barriers, in preparation for fighting government forces
Hodeidah port is essential to Houthi militias as it allows them monopoly over a vital Red Sea route. They face accusations of docking cargos of Iranian funding and arms, seizing humanitarian aid and redistributing relief to their tailored liking and war efforts and threatening international navigation
Sources said that Houthis are paving the way in the coming days to cut off communications permanently from Hodeidah areas, including, cut off communication through defusing landlines and disrupting Internet services
