Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 19 June 2018

UAE's campaign for Yemen port city a test of 'Little Sparta'

By JON GAMBRELL as 3,000 fighters around
Associated Press Hodeida, Gargash said.
DUBAI, United Arab He declined to offer
Emirates (AP) — The United the nationalities nor the
Arab Emirates is a country numbers of troops now
better known for oil riches fighting in the Saudi-
and skyscraper skylines, but led coalition around
right now it is prosecuting Hodeida, only saying it had
what could be a crucial "numerical superiority" over
offensive in the 3-year-old the Houthis.
conflict in Yemen. At least 250 Houthis have
While the overall war in been killed in the fighting so
the Arab world's poorest far, he said. He declined to
country has been led by offer casualty figures for the
Saudi Arabia, the ongoing Saudi-led coalition, though
battle for the Red Sea Emirati officials have so far
port city of Hodeida has announced the deaths
fallen squarely on the of four of its soldiers in the
shoulders of the UAE, a U.S.- offensive.
allied federation of seven The Saudi-led coalition
sheikhdoms. hasn't received active
Emirati troops, along targeting help from the
with irregular and loyalist U.S., though it has offered
forces in Yemen, have guidance on avoiding
been fighting against Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash speaks to journalists in Dubai, United civilian casualties in the
Shiite rebels known as Arab Emirates, Monday, June 18, 2018. past and midair refueling.
Houthis for Hodeida since Associated Press Those airstrikes face
Wednesday. But fighting widespread criticism for
has been fierce and Emirati will force them to start the The offensive for Hodeida channels leading to the hitting marketplaces and
troops have been killed, political process." has faced criticism from port. hospitals, causing numerous
with Houthi propaganda The UAE, previously called international aid groups, "The first challenge facing us civilian casualties.
videos showing their "Little Sparta" by U.S. who fear a protracted fight is the fragile humanitarian Asked what help the U.S.
armored vehicles disabled Defense Secretary Jim could force a shutdown situation because of the is providing in Hodeida,
and set ablaze. Mattis, has a Western- of the city's port and importance of Hodeida," Gargash declined to offer
A top Emirati official armed military of 63,000 potentially tip millions Gargash said. "The second specifics. However, he
acknowledged how the troops. Its expeditionary into starvation. Some 70 one is not targeting civilians acknowledged a French
campaign for Hodeida forces already have served percent of Yemen's food in this operation, avoiding offer to help with demining
goes will determine the in Afghanistan and as enters via the port, as well civilian casualties." the waters around Hodeida.
likelihood of an end to peacekeepers in Kosovo. as the bulk of humanitarian So far, there have been He made a point to deny
Yemen's war. But it also Abu Dhabi's powerful crown aid and fuel supplies. "four or five civilians" killed, in Arabic the presence
will prove how serious the prince, Sheikh Mohammed Around two-thirds of the Gargash said, which he of any French forces on
UAE's military is after billions bin Zayed Al Nahyan, country's population of 27 blamed on the Houthis. the ground in Hodeida, a
of dollars of weapons has taken on a muscular million relies on aid and 8.4 There have been no claim reported Saturday by
purchases and previous neoconservative posture million are already at risk of casualty figures released the French newspaper Le
stints as peacekeepers with Saudi Crown Prince starving. by international aid groups Figaro.
abroad. Mohammed bin Salman The port remains open since the offensive began, For now, he said he hoped
"From our perspective, in the war in Yemen. The for incoming ships and as they evacuated their the campaign would
three years of war is Saudi-led force entered Gargash said the UAE had international staff and aid U.N. special envoy
enough. It is time for the Yemen's war in March 2015 plans for "airdrops" of food locals remain hiding in their to Yemen Martin Griffiths'
political process," Emirati to support the country's if necessary. Hodeida homes. efforts to get a cease-fire
Minister of State for Foreign ousted government against International Airport, which "We will not be pulled into and have the Houthis leave
Affairs Anwar Gargash the Iranian-aided Houthis. has seen days of intense an ugly fight where we Hodeida.
told journalists at a news The war has seen over fighting, has been bombed have to move into civilian" "We are still counting on
conference Monday. "If the 10,000 people killed and and closed for years. areas, Gargash said. "We the U.N. attempt to try and
Houthis don't want to start sparked a major cholera Gargash said Emirati forces will take our time." pull a rabbit out of the hat,"
the political process, we epidemic. also fear the Houthis mining The Houthis have as many Gargash said.q