The Saudi-led Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen accused the Iran-backed Houthi militias of preventing an aid convoy from departing Hodeidah port. Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said that the convoy belonged to a United Nations agency and was carrying 32 tons of flour. He stressed that the joint coalition command had issued the necessary permits to allow the convoy entry in legitimacy-controlled areas of Hodeidah. The Houthis, however, refused to allow it to head to Sanaa, he charged. He deemed the militias’ action as “deliberate obstruction of relief and humanitarian work.” The coalition has continued to issue permits to relief agencies and secure their activity in Yemen to ease the suffering of the people. It also supports the efforts of UN special envoy Martin Griffiths to reach peace in the country, including the recent Sweden agreement that calls on the Houthis to withdraw from Hodeidah.