اضغط هنا لقراءة الخبر بالعربية
Pro-government forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition advanced against the Houthis during battles on the outskirts of Yemen's western port city of Hodeidah and pushed deeper into east of the city on Wednesday.
They have taken control of the highway liking Hodeidah with the capital Sanaa and moved to within 10 kilometers of the city centre, local sources said, adding that fighters from both sides were killed and injured in the fighting.
Apache helicopters of the coalition are combing the highway to Kilo 16 in the east and 50th Street in the north and have targeted Houthi reinforcements and sand barriers along the route, the sources said.
In June, the coalition and the government launched an offensive to retake Hodeidah city and seaport from the Houthis. They are accusing the Houthis of smuggling Iranian weapons including ballistic missiles through Hodeidah seaport, an accusation that the Houthis and Iran have denied.
The coalition has been fighting the Houthis to restore the internationally recognised government since March 2015.
Earlier on Wednesday, the pro-government forces said they were posed to attack Hodeidah city as they were continuing heavy artillery shelling on Houthi positions in Kilo 10.
Hodeidah lies 260 kilometers west of the capital Sanaa. It is Yemen's poorest and second most densely populated city.
