DUBAI, July 1 (Xinhua) -- As the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has "paused" its campaign in the Yemeni port city of Hodeida, the Houthi rebels "continue violating international humanitarian law," said Anwar Gargash, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, on Sunday.
Through his Twitter account, Gargash said the Houthis "plant land and sea mines, place snipers and weapons in civilian areas, forcibly conscript civilians, including 15,000 children, and obstruct delivery of humanitarian aid."
He said the UAE welcomes "continuing efforts" by UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, to achieve an unconditional Houthi withdrawal from Hodeida.
"We have paused our campaign to allow enough time for this option to be fully explored," Gargash said.
He stressed that the coalition's operation to liberate Hodeida "is calibrated to minimize civilian casualties and maximize pressure on Houthis. It has succeeded in liberating the airport and forcing the Houthis to make concessions."
"Whether the Houthis are engaging seriously with this process or using it as a tactic to buy time" needs to be observed, he added. "They have declared their intention to recapture entire Yemen, in defiance of the United Nations."
The UAE is part of the Saudi-led Arab coalition that has been fighting the Shiite Houthi rebels since March 2015 to support the internationally-recognized government led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
The coalition accuses Iran of arming the Houthis, who have fired scores of ballistic missiles on Saudi troops and cities since the outbreak of hostilities.
