Arab Coalition forces have "liberated" the airport in Yemen's main port city of Hodeidah, the media office of the Yemeni military said on Saturday. 

 

"Army forces backed by the resistance and the Arab alliance freed Hodeidah international airport from the grip of the Houthi militia," the media office said on Twitter on Saturday.

 

An armoured vehicle belonging to Yemeni pro-government forces arrives in al-Durayhimi district, about nine kilometres south of Hodeidah international airport on June 13, 2018.

 

A source with the coalition-backed Yemeni military said troops had surrounded the main airport building.

 

"We need some time to make sure there are no gunmen, mines or explosive in the building," the source said.

 

The media office said technical teams were de-mining the surrounding area.

 

The Western-backed alliance led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates says it can swiftly capture the port, the only one the Houthis control, without major disruption to aid supplies in a country already experiencing the world's most pressing humanitarian crisis.