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Saudi-led coalition recaptures Yemen's Red Sea island from Houthi rebels

Xinhua, December 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Saudi-led Arab coalition announced Thursday that a Yemeni Red Sea island was recaptured from the Shiite Houthi rebels after weeks of air strikes, al-Arabiya TV channel said.

The coalition forces managed to expel Houthi gunmen and regain full control over Greater Hunaish Island in the Red Sea's main shipping lanes near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, according to the TV channel.

The Iran-backed Shiite Houthi group has been using the Red Sea island to store and smuggle arms to Yemen's main Red Sea port in the western province of Hodyada, the TV said.

Local sources confirmed that warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition had intensified air bombings on Houthi-held positions for several weeks before retaking the Hunaish Island.

On Monday, the UN special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, declared that he will convene a series of peace talks among the warring parties in Switzerland on Dec. 15, aiming to secure a ceasefire in the war-torn country.

The internationally recognized Yemeni president, Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, has informed the United Nations and the coalition command that he would announce an "extendible" seven-day humanitarian ceasefire on Dec. 15 to coincide with the UN-facilitated peace talks.

Hadi said the cease-fire will be extended if the Shiite Houthis and their allies lift siege on Yemen's third largest city Taiz, free detainees and end military actions.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition began air bombing military bases and arms depots of the Shiite Houthi gunmen in March, and later sent in thousands of ground troops from the UAE, Sudan, Qatar and other nationalities to back pro-government forces.

Bolstered by heavy weaponry and Gulf troops as well as Yemeni fighters trained in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the pro-government fighters retook Aden as well as four other southern provinces in July.

The Shiite Houthi rebels, supported by the Republican Guard Forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, are still holding the capital Sanaa and several northern provinces.

More than 6,000 people have been killed in ground battles and airstrikes since then, half of them civilians. Endit