War-torn Yemen city calm as ceasefire begins
SANAA: Yemen’s flashpoint city of Hodeida was calm following heavy clashes that erupted after the United Nations-brokered ceasefire started at midnight, pro-government sources and residents said.
“There has been complete calm since 3am Yemen time in the city of Hodeida,” a military source loyal to the government said yesterday.
The ceasefire agreement struck at the UN-sponsored peace talks in Sweden came into effect at midnight Monday but heavy clashes and air raids continued after the deadline, pro-government sources and residents in the city said.
The residents confirmed by phone that there had been no fighting between the government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition and Iran-aligned Houthi rebels since 3am.
But it was not possible to determine if the halt in fighting was in response to the ceasefire or just a temporary stoppage.
Residents said daily fighting was usually fierce in the evening and at night, before coming to a standstill at dawn.
The two warring sides have. however. welcomed the truce in the strategic Red Sea province.
Both the defence ministry of the internationally recognised government and that of the Houthi rebels said they would comply with the ceasefire.
The UN said on Monday that the deal was to be implemented at mid- night, even though the agreement reached in Sweden last week included an “immediate ceasefire” in Hodeida and its surroundings.
A UN official, who requested anonymity, said the delay to the halt in hostilities was necessary for “operational reasons”. — AFP