Yemen's Houthis seize airport, airbase in key port city

Militants loyal to the Shiite Houthi group have seized control of a civilian airport and a military airbase in Yemen's western port city of Al-Hudaydah, World Bulletin reported Tuesday.
"Militants stormed Al-Hudaydah's airport and airbase without encountering resistance after having besieged several of the city's key sites since Thursday night," an official said on condition of anonymity.
He went on to stress that the Houthis had also managed to capture "key security sites" in the city.
The Houthis have long sought to control Al-Hudaydah, capital of the western province of the same name.
Possession of the port city will allow the Shiite group to exert control over the movement of oil tankers through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb waterway between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.
Since September 21, the Houthis have been in control of the capital, Sanaa.