Houthi rebels are threatening to blow up the airport terminals of Yemen’s key port city of Hodeidah, said a spokesman with the government forces.
Lt Omar Saleh, spokesman for the Yemeni Army's former elite Al Amalikah brigades — rebuilt with the help of the United Arab Emirates — said two Houthis who had been detained during fighting had admitted that the Iran-backed group was planning to destroy the terminals if government forces pursued their offensive on Hodeidah.
"The two newly-recruited Houthis were arrested on Saturday during clashes near the airport, and they said that mines experts were planting explosives at the terminals," he told The National. "They planted thousands of landmines in the airport."
The Yemeni army said on Saturday that it seized control of the rebel base at Hodeidah's airport, which has been closed since 2014. It added that technical teams were on the scene to de-mine the area.
It was unclear whether the government troops had taken over the entire airport. Later reports said clashes were taking place at the airport’s southern gate but that the army had still not entered the airport.
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Lt Saleh said that Houthi fighters were instructed to “to die rather than give up Hodeidah”.
“The two Houthis were told to die if they have to for the sake of Hodeidah because ‘controlling Hodeidah means controlling Sanaa’,” he said.
Lt Saleh also said that the Houthis they detained were forced to fight in Hodeidah.
“When we caught them, they were terrified and expected us to kill them. However, after they realised were treating them nicely, they calmed down and started answering our questions,” he said.
“They told us that the Houthi militia forced them to fight in Hodeidah after threatening them.”
Houthi fighters stormed the residences of men in Sanaa, Amran and Al Mahwit province and told them that they either agree to fight or go to prison, Lt Saleh cited the detainees as saying.
“One of the young men said that his father was arrested by the Houthis and sent to prison because he refused to fight. He was told that they were going to kill him for treason, so the young man offered himself up to fight instead,” said Lt Saleh.
“The Houthis only agreed to release the man’s father, who was extremely sick, after he agreed to fight for them.”
Mohammed Ali Al Shelli, a Yemeni activist, said that he would not put it past the Houthis that they would blow up the terminal or force people into fighting.
"I expect them to do anything if pro-government forces take over the airport because they have no concern for anyone or anything. Wouldn't be the first time they committed a horrible crime," he told The National.
“They have blown up residences of civilians, the only hospital for cancer treatment in Taez and stormed mosques in Hodeidah to turn into halls for fighters.
“They’ve even targeted ambulances. So I expect them to do anything.”
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya reported that the Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes on the airport.
Meanwhile, UN special envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths was holding talks in rebel-controlled Sanaa for a second day on Sunday, as government forces — supported by the Arab coalition — traded mortar fire with rebels near Hodeidah airport.
The coalition, which includes the UAE, intervened in the war in March 2015 at the request of the internationally-recognised government of Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.
A major offensive was launched on Wednesday to liberate Hodeidah from the Houthis, who have been using the port to smuggle in weapons — including ballistic missiles — supplied by Iran and profiting from illegally sold humanitarian aid. Their aim is to box the Houthis into the capital Sanaa, to cut their supply lines and force them to the negotiating table.
Mr Griffith, whose talks have been kept under wraps, was believed to be pressing the Houthis to cede control of the Red Sea port to a UN-supervised committee.
Hodeidah's port handles 80 per cent of essential goods going into Yemen, which the UN says is grappling with the world's worst humanitarian crisis. About 8.4 million people in Yemen face conditions close to famine, according to the World Health Organisation.
The coalition is confident it can capture the port without major disruption to aid supplies.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
