According to Yemeni officials, the plan involves the capture of the Red Sea Port of Hodeidah by local factions based in the country’s south, with the aim of pushing the Houthis back from large swathes of the coast from where they have been launching attacks on commercial cargo traffic in the Red Sea.

Reportedly, private American security contractors advised the factions on the potential offensive, while the United Arab Emirates raised the plan with US officials in recent weeks.

Senior Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said that the group were undeterred by the bombing campaign, and that a ground operation would also fail to stop them.