Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition have cut off a crucial supply route between Yemen's capital, Sana’a, and the port city of Hodeidah, in a major blow to the Houthi rebels which control both cities.

UN officials had hoped peace talks would prevent an attack on Hodeidah, which is a lifeline for millions of ordinary Yeminis as the entry point for most of Yemen’s imports and aid supplies.

Officials fear an attack on Hodeidah could trigger famine in a country where an estimated 8.4 million people are starving.

Planned peace talks between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed Yemini government collapsed on Saturday after the Houthi delegation failed to attend.

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi rebels, accused the coalition of blocking his team’s movement so they were unable to attend the talks.

Khaled al-Yamani, Yemen’s foreign minister, said the Houthis were ”trying to sabotage the negotiations.”

The Saudi and Western-backed military alliance then resumed its offensive against Hodeidah.

Brutal effects of Yemeni war Show all 12 1 /12 Brutal effects of Yemeni war Brutal effects of Yemeni war Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council shows a Yemeni woman holding a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Mohamed, 2, is treated for Malnutrition in Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province, Yemen Bel Trew Brutal effects of Yemeni war a trip in Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows a Yemeni woman holding a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province. AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows a Yemeni woman sitting next to a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province. AFP/Getty Brutal effects of Yemeni war A picture taken on August 7, 2018 during a trip in Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council shows Yemeni women attending to children diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP) (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Mohamed, 2, is treated for Malnutrition in Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province, Yemen Bel Trew Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition is weighed at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition awaits treatment at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition awaits treatment at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Yemeni nurses weigh a malnourished child at a hospital in the northern district of Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni woman carries a malnourished child as she waits during food distribution in the province of Hodeida AFP/Getty Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition is measured at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province on August 18, 2018. (Photo by ESSA AHMED / AFP) (Photo credit should read ESSA AHMED/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images

The coalition of Sunni Muslim states, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has repeatedly claimed they would be able to force the Houthi movement into negotiations through cutting off their main supply line.

“The main entrance in Hodeidah leading to Sana’a has been closed after forces backed by the UAE took control of the road,” a pro-coalition military source told Reuters.

The city’s residents said the main eastern gate had been damaged in coalition airstrikes and fighting was continuing on secondary roads near the main road.

A second, more circuitous, road could still be used as a supply route between Hodeidah and Sana’a.

The United Nations said 981 civilians, including 300 children, died in Yemen in August alone. Estimates for the overall death toll ranges from 10,000 killed to five times as many.