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Yemen loyalists advance into Red Sea town of Mokha

AR-151218943
AR-151218943
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ADEN: Yemeni government forces have advanced into the Red Sea town of Mokha but Ansar Allah fighters are still putting up fierce resistance, a military official said on Saturday. Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, captured the police headquarters and several surrounding streets late on Friday, the official said. Deadly clashes have shaken the town since loyalist forces launched an offensive nearly three weeks ago to oust the Ansar Allah and their allies from the southern part of the Red Sea coastline. Since Friday alone, at least 19 fighters have been killed and 23 wounded, a medical source in the dissident-held port city of Hodeida further north said.


Eight loyalist troops have been killed and 13 wounded, medical sources in the government-held second city of Aden said. The dissidents’ only escape route is to the north after loyalist forces surrounded Mokha from the east and the south, the military official said. The waters off the port are blockaded by coalition warships and Apache helicopters. Mokha was Yemen’s main port serving as its export hub for coffee until it was overtaken by Aden and Hodeida in the 19th century. Nearly 260 combatants have been killed since government forces launched their drive up the Red Sea coastline on January 7. They have already retaken the Dhubab district further south in their biggest advance in months. — AFP


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