Coalition, Al Houthis reach informal truce
Saudi-led alliance will allow evacuation of injured rebels — Britain
An informal agreement to reduce hostilities between Saudi-led coalition forces and Al Houthis in and around Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeida has taken hold, military officials said yesterday, in a move that could be a prelude to peace talks that would end the war in the poorest Arab country.
The officials said hostilities have ceased for the second consecutive day, with both sides respecting the truce. Only three coalition air strikes were carried out in the last 24 hours, targeting rebel positions outside the city.
Griffiths optimistic
The truce followed advances by the coalition in their latest attempt to retake the city from the militia, with its forces now 5km short of the port, Yemen’s traditional lifeline.
The UN special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, welcomed the reduction of hostilities and said it was a “crucial step” to prevent further humanitarian suffering. “I call upon all parties to the conflict to show continued restraint. The people of Yemen have suffered enough. I am confident that the parties are ready to work on a political solution and am encouraged by the constructive engagement received from all sides,” he said in a statement.
Earlier, Britain said the coalition had agreed to the evacuation of wounded rebels from the country ahead of proposed peace talks in Sweden.
Al Houthis burn hospital
The office of British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the Saudi-led alliance fighting on the side of the government had agreed to the evacuation of up to 50 wounded Al Houthi fighters to Oman following his visit to Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Al Houthi militia burnt and bombed the 22nd May Hospital in Hodeida.
Al Houthis attacked the hospital while fleeing, in a desperate attempt to cover their successive defeats in Hodeida, while also revealing their scorched earth policy in the process.
The UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, welcomed an informal agreement to reduce hostilities between Saudi-led coalition forces and Al Houthis in and around Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeida.
He said the reduction of hostilities was a “crucial step” to prevent further humanitarian suffering.
“I call upon all parties to the conflict to show continued restraint. The people of Yemen have suffered enough,” he said in a statement.
Griffiths said the statement reassured the warring sides that the UN remained ready to re-engage the parties on a negotiated agreement for Hodeida, which would protect the port and preserve the humanitarian pipeline.
Military officials said yesterday an informal agreement to reduce hostilities had taken hold in a move that could be a prelude to peace talks that would end the ruinous war in the poorest Arab country.
The officials said hostilities have ceased for the second consecutive day, with both sides respecting the truce. Only three coalition air strikes were carried out in the last 24 hours, targeting rebel positions outside the city.
The truce followed advances by the coalition in their latest attempt to retake the city from the militia, with its forces now 5km short of the port, Yemen’s traditional lifeline.
The officials said efforts were being made to persuade Al Houthis to abandon the city and hand over control to an independent Yemeni party that would run the port under UN supervision.
Earlier, Al Houthi militia burnt and bombed the 22nd May Hospital in Hodeida. Al Houthis attacked the hospital while fleeing, in a desperate attempt to cover their successive defeats in Hodeida.
The Emirates News Agency (WAM) observed the destruction of the hospital from the inside.
Meanwhile, Britain said yesterday the coalition has agreed to allow the evacuation of injured militants in a confidence-building step amid international efforts to end the years-long war.
“Coalition forces will now permit the UN to oversee Al Houthi medical evacuation, including up to 50 wounded fighters, to Oman ahead of another proposed round of peace talks in Sweden later this month,” Britain’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The announcement followed a visit by British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt to Riyadh.