Saudi Arabia And Its Allies Strike Yemen's Main Port City

A Saudi-led coalition backing pro-government troops in Yemen has launched an assault on the country's main port city of Hodeidah in what threatens to become the fiercest battle of a three-year war against Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

The United Arab Emirates state news agency said early Wednesday that large numbers of forces had reached the outskirts of the city. The UAE is a key partner with Saudi Arabia, which is backed by the United States.

"The liberation of the province of Hodeidah from the grip of the ... militias, will be the beginning of the complete victory for the liberation of all the Yemeni lands," Yemen's government in exile said in a statement.