Houthis Booby-Trap Yemen's Hodeidah Ahead of Possible Ground Attack
Iran-backed Houthis have escalated landmine-laying operations across their controlled territories in Hodeidah governorate (western Yemen), bracing for a potential ground offensive by opposing forces.
Field sources said that the Houthis have heavily mined frontline districts, including, the center and eastern areas of Al Durayhimi district, the northeastern sectors of Hays district, the eastern part of Al Tahita district, Bayt Al-Faqih district and the northern and northeastern zones of Al Jarrahi district.
Additionally, the Houthis have laid extensive minefields around the strategic Hodeidah port on the Red Sea, endangering civilian safety and maritime navigation.
Concurrently, over the past two weeks, the militants have deployed substantial reinforcements—including hundreds of fighters, armored vehicles, and military hardware—to key districts in the governorate, as well as southeastern neighborhoods of Hodeidah city.
These defensive measures follow a Wall Street Journal report revealing that Yemeni factions are preparing a ground assault against the Houthis, capitalizing on recent U.S. airstrikes that have degraded the group's combat strength.
The report noted that while U.S. officials are open to backing a Yemeni-led ground operation, no final decision has been made on the scope or timing of such support.
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