SANAA, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Saudi-led warplanes on Monday dropped "liberation" leaflets over Yemen's Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah, according to activists and residents.

"The Arab coalition forces are coming to liberate your areas from Iran-backed Houthi militias," read the leaflets.

Most of the leaflets were dropped over the districts of Hussieniyah and Zabid, about one-hour drive from the south of Hodeidah.

The leaflets urged the residents "not to join the Houthi militias and keep away from their positions."

The Saudi-led coalition has so far kept the city's port open for aid and commercial ships. The port is a main entry point of about 70 percent of Yemen's food, medicines, aid and fuel.

The battle for Hodeidah began in June, in which forces of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by the Arab coalition, had advanced from Mocha, a southwestern port city under the government control, to al-Durayhemi and Tahita districts, capturing both areas on the southern edge of the port city.

The government military advance paused shortly in August to allow for more peace efforts by the UN envoy to Yemen. However, the fighting intensified after the peace talks in Geneva collapsed on Sept. 8.

Up to 500,000 people fled homes in Hodeidah between June and August, according to UN aid agencies.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile.