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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Jeddah - Saeed al-Abyad

Yemeni Army: Houthis Smuggled African Fighters to Hodeidah

A Houthi militant stands guard on a street where a pro-Houthi tribal gathering is being held in Yemen's capital Sanaa December 10, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi

The Yemeni army has accused Houthi militias of smuggling dozens of African fighters into the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah to fight alongside the insurgents.

Yemeni National Army spokesman Brigadier General Abdo Abdullah Majali told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis have forced a large number of migrants coming from the Horn of Africa region to enroll in their camps.

The insurgents later deployed them on several fronts, he said.

Majali urged the international community to take action to stop the militias from recruiting African migrants and children.

The Yemeni army says it has made great advances on several fronts mainly in Saada and Nahm provinces, which are at close proximity to the Houthi-controled capital of Sanaa.

In the past two months, the army has been able to bring under its control large swaths of territory. Houthis have also suffered major losses.

The army has found two secret sites to manufacture drones in Hodeidah. But it has so far not targeted them because they are located in areas inhabited by civilians.

It said it is studying all options to deal with the sites in line with the rules of engagement.

Majali accused the Houthis of recently transferring their heavy weaponry to inhabited areas to avoid being targeted by the Arab Coalition.

Any drones used by the Houthis would not help them make gains, Majali said.

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