Yemeni Coalition forces said on Friday they have withdrawn from around the main port of Hodeidah held by their foes the Houthis.
The Coalition forces said that they had redeployed from around Hodeidah city in western Yemen, the main entry point for commercial imports and aid flows.
"The redeployment was due to lack of movement on a U.N.-sponsored pact agreed in late 2018 for a phased withdrawal from Hodeidah by both warring sides, which has not taken place". They added in a statement.
"This is a withdrawal from areas stipulated under the Stockholm deal ... to free the joint forces from limitations imposed by this deal,".
The Coalition forces Command confirms that it took this decision in light of the redeployment plan specified in the Stockholm Agreement, which the Yemeni government is committed to implementing, despite the Houthi militia’s violations of the agreement, and are still continuing to undermine the agreement until today.
"We see our religious and patriotic duty motivating us to defend fronts of other importance that the enemy may exploit when there are insufficient defenses, and the absence of an international agreement deterring the Houthis from their progress, as happened with our forces in (Hodeidah)". The statement further said.
"The joint forces saw the error of being surrounded in defensive fortifications that were prohibited from waging war, by an international decision, while the various fronts required support in all forms; including the opening of other fronts, to stop the Houthis". The statement added.
