ADEN, (Reuters) – Yemeni rebels clashed with each other south of Hodeidah, a port city on the Red Sea, late Saturday. The Iranian-backed Houthi fighters had entered territory occupied by Saudi-led forces, according to witnesses and military sources.

Yemeni forces supported by the United Arab Emirates announced on Friday that they would be redeploying around Yemen’s central port in West Yemen. A U.N monitoring mission and government statement said there was no prior notice.

Hodeidah was held by the Iran-aligned Houthis. They had signed a United Nations sponsored pact in 2018, which saw both the Saudi-backed government and Iran-aligned Houthis agree to a truce. It was mostly successful and has stalled with troop withdrawals.

Two residents and military sources confirmed that coalition warplanes carried out air strikes in the Al Faza region south of Hodeidah, as Houthi fighters fought UAE-backed troops until midnight.

Al Faza is 15km (9 miles) away from Al-Khokha (coalition-held), where hundreds fled the Houthi advance.

UNMHA is the U.N. monitoring the Hodeidah agreement. It called on both sides Saturday to make sure civilian safety.

UNMHA was internationally recognised as a government. It released a statement saying it did not have any prior knowledge. They warned Houthi advances would constitute a “glaring breach” of the agreement.

The Saudi-led alliance did not say if Hodeidah’s withdrawal was related to a Redeployment in South Yemen. Sources said that the Saudi military left Aden as the interim seat.

In an interview on Saturday with France 24 TV, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia reiterated the coalition’s denial that Saudi Arabia was withdrawing its military. He stated, “There continues to be strong support (for) the government in Yemen and (coalition forces).

After the Houthis overthrew the Sanaa government, the alliance intervened. This conflict can be seen as an indirect war between Saudi Arabian and Iranian. Houthis claim they fight a corrupt system, and foreign aggression.

Washington has asked Riyadh for the lifting of a blockade by coalition on Houthi ports. This is a condition to ceasefire negotiations.

Hodeidah serves as the principal entry point to commercial goods and humanitarian aid. It is also the lifeline for the millions of people who are facing starvation during what the U.N. calls the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.