Saudi-led coalition to reopen Yemen’s sea, airports

Saudi Arabia-led coalition operating in Yemen said starting Thursday it will reopen Hodeida port to receive humanitarian and relief materials, along with reopening Sanaa airport to UN aircraft.

The two were closed earlier this month with the aim to cut any flow of arms to the Houthis militia.

The Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said it will soon also announce a comprehensive humanitarian operations plan to provide assistance and relief to the Yemeni people, and to facilitate delivery of food.

The Coalition renewed its call for the United Nations to send a team to enhance the UN's inspection and verification mechanism, and facilitate the entry of aid and humanitarian shipments, “while preventing the Houthi militias from smuggling missiles to target neighboring countries,” the Coalition Command said in a statement.

The decision came after the Command completed a comprehensive review of the inspection and verification procedures, it added.