The national Yemeni army blocked a main supply route used by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Hodeidah city.
Abdulrahman Saleh Abou Zaraa, head of the brigade fighting the Houthis in the province, told AFP his forces had taken the militias’ main supply route linking the port city to the capital Sanaa, known as Kilo 16.
The forces also seized a second supply route around Hodeidah, known as Kilo 10, military sources said.
A military source in the brigade fighting in Hodeidah said Wednesday's operation aimed to cut off supplies to the militias.
Saudi-led Arab coalition warplanes launched air strikes on Wednesday near the eastern gate of the city that leads to roads linking it with Sanaa and Taiz province, residents said according to Reuters.
Fierce clashes broke out Wednesday between the Houthis and pro-government forces on the east and south of Hodeidah city, leaving dozens of fighters dead, according to military and medical sources.
A senior Yemeni source in the coalition told Reuters that the alliance had renewed an offensive to take control of the city from the Houthis after an attempt to hold peace talks in Geneva was abandoned on Saturday when the Houthi delegation failed to show up.
"The Houthi NO SHOW at the Geneva peace process is further proof that the liberation of Hodeidah is what is needed to bring them to their senses & constructively engage in the political process," UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said in Twitter post.
