SANAA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday denied reports that a cease-fire was reached between their fighters and the Saudi-led coalition in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, the rebel-controlled Saba news agency reported.
"The Saudi-led coalition has been trying to ease the international humanitarian pressure on its countries by spreading rumors about a truce," Houthi government spokesman Dhaif-Allah al-Shami said in a statement.
"The reports of Hodeidah truce is baseless and aimed to mislead the world public opinion," he added.
"What has been going on in Hodeidah was that the coalition forces are preparing for a further military escalation," al-Shami noted.
Earlier in the day, Houthi media reported that clashes broke out between their fighters and the government troops, backed by the coalition, in and around the port city.
In the capital Sanaa, also under the Houthi control, a coalition airstrike hit the Sanaa International Airport in the evening, according to the residents and Houthi media.
The Yemeni government sees the capture of Hodeidah as a potential major victory in the four-year-long civil war, as the loser of the battle is likely to be forced to sit down at the negotiation table.
