ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni government forces beefed up military presence in Hodeidah as part of the preparations for a wide-scale offensive against the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea coastal city.
Heavy reinforcements of the southern pro-government Giants Brigades kept arriving in Hodeidah as the Yemeni government, backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, is bracing to expel Houthis from the strategic city.
An army commander of the government forces told Xinhua by phone that "more military gears with many newly-recruited soldiers arrived in the frontline areas in Hodeidah and began preparations for zero hour."
The army units arrived from Aden and other government-controlled provinces, with the maximum readiness to storm Houthi-held areas, especially the areas located near the strategic port of Hodeidah, the commander said on condition of anonymity.
There is high coordination and contact with high-ranking officials of the Saudi-led coalition, he revealed, saying the government forces are waiting for orders from Yemen's Presidency to liberate the whole province of Hodeidah.
Another officer of the pro-government forces confirmed to Xinhua that warships of the Saudi-led coalition will participate by a naval military operation to support the final push aimed at seizing Hodeidah.
"Intensified airstrikes and naval bombardment will be launched to destroy the Houthi-controlled sites and provide support for the ground troops in the forthcoming battle," the officer said, who also asked to remain anonymous.
Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels started consolidating their positions in an anticipation for a major confrontation with the government forces backed by forces from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A source close to the Houthi group said scores of soldiers belonging to well-trained battalions named as "Death Battalions" arrived in Hodeidah to confront the "invading forces."
Observers based in Yemen's Aden said a major military operation is looming on the horizon as UAE-backed Yemeni government forces received hundreds of armored vehicles amid preparations to seize the strategic Red Sea coastal city from Houthis.
On Wednesday, the Yemeni government troops, backed by the UAE, succeeded in cutting off the "Kilo16 road," the only supply route linking Houthi-controlled areas in northern provinces with the port city of Hodeidah.
Offensives and counter-offensives between Yemeni warring rivals gained momentum across the war-torn Arab country, just days after the failure of the UN-sponsored negotiations in Geneva, leaving scores killed and injured.
The UN-sponsored talks between the Yemeni warring rivals failed Saturday after two days of delay because of the absence of a delegation representing the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, raising fears among Yemenis about the future of their country.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government seeks to expel the Houthi rebels out of the strategic port city of Hodeidah militarily despite warnings issued by international humanitarian agencies.
On the other side, the Houthis built many underground trenches and vowed to defend Hodeidah to remain their control of its key port along the Red Sea.
On June 13, the Arab coalition, backing the internationally-recognized government of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, declared a major assault to recapture Hodeidah and the Yemeni western Red Sea coast from the Houthis.
The Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly accused the Houthi rebels of using Hodeidah's port to smuggle Iranian weapons. Both Houthis and Iran, however, denied the accusation.
Hodeidah is the single most important point of entry for food and basic supplies to Yemen's northern provinces controlled by Houthis, including the capital Sanaa.
The Arab coalition intervened in Yemen's conflict in March 2015 to roll back Houthi rebels and reinstate Hadi.
