Tension surrounding the critical Houthi-held Red Sea port of al-Hodeidah in Yemen is rising rapidly, amid UN warnings against a high-stakes battle for the key aid gateway, AFP reported Tuesday (June 12th).
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said his envoy Martin Griffiths has been locked in "intense negotiations" with the Iran-backed Houthis (Ansarallah), Saudi Arabia and the UAE to find a "way to avoid the military confrontation in al-Hodeidah".
During a meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled Alyemany, Guterres stressed that "everyone should redouble efforts to find a political solution and avoid a fierce, bloody battle for al-Hodeidah", UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
The city is home to 600,000 people and is the entry point for 70% of Yemen's imports, including vital aid supplies for civilians in the conflict-wracked country.
In a sign of growing international concern over al-Hodeidah, the UN Security Council met behind closed doors on Monday.
Griffiths briefed the Security Council by video conference from Amman, and according to diplomats has revived a year-old plan to turn over al-Hodeidah port to a neutral party.
