Yemeni forces prepare for assault on vital port
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A Yemeni commander says pro-government forces are planning an all-out assault on the Red Sea port of Hodeida, a lifeline for aid to the war-ravaged country.
Ahmed al-Kawkabani, who leads a force known as Tohama Brigade, said Wednesday that the troops are 13 kilometers (eight miles) from the rebel-held city, but need time to prepare for a "swift takeover with minimal casualties."
A Saudi-led coalition has been locked in a stalemated war in Yemen with Iran-backed rebels known as Houthis since March 2015. Backed by coalition airstrikes, government forces have made advances along the coast in recent weeks.
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The coalition accuses the Houthis of bringing Iranian arms in through Hodeida, accusations denied by the rebels.
The war has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced 3 million.