Battles intensified on Tuesday between the joint Yemeni forces, backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, and the Iran-backed Houthi militia along a 60-km stretch near the west coast south of Hodeidah. The forces continued their march north towards Hodeidah airport to cover their backs and continue the liberation of the Tahita, Zabid, al-Jarahi, al-Huseeiniya, Beit al-Faqih and al-Durayhimi regions. Local and military sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that sensing their imminent defeat in Hodeidah, the Houthis booby-trapped its strategic port and looted government buildings. It also sent hundreds of its members in Saana, Amran, al-Mahwit, Hajjah and Raymah on a suicidal mission to defend Hodeidah and its southern regions that are on the verge of being liberated. Local sources in Hodeidah revealed that militia leaders there have started to flee the city and smuggle their families to Saada and Sanaa. They have also started to sell their properties and loot and booby-trap government buildings before the arrival of the joint forces. Moreover, partisan sources in the city revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that several local Houthi figures opened channels of communication with the joint forces to demand safe haven. The citizens have also started to express their opposition to the militias, staging surprise attacks against their vehicles as they traverse the city. The loss of the Hodeidah port will be a heavy blow to the Houthis as it is their sole marine outlet that allows them to smuggle Iranian weapons and threaten navigation in the Red Sea. On the ground south of Hodeidah, Yemeni forces, backed by Arab coalition air strikes, dealt the militias painful blows, leaving dozens of them dead or injured. The strikes have also thwarted the advance of Houthi reinforcements to the area. In the coastal Khokha region, Arab coalition air defenses destroyed six ballistic missiles that were fired by the Houthis at legitimate forces camps. Arab coalition strikes, meanwhile, struck Houthi barracks and military targets south and southeast of Sanaa. They carried out similar strikes in Ibb and Taiz.