Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash, speaks at an event at Chatham House in London, Britain July 17, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall

DUBAI (Reuters) - A senior United Arab Emirates official said on Tuesday that the Iran-aligned Houthi movement must evacuate Yemen’s main port of Hodeidah as troops backed by a Saudi-led coalition geared for an assault on the city.

“The international community must pressure the Houthis to evacuate Hodeidah & leave the port intact,” UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Twitter.

“The current & illegal Houthi occupation of Hodeidah is prolonging the Yemeni war. The liberation of the city & port will create a new reality & bring the Houthis to the negotiations,” he added.