Yemeni sides OK first phase of pullback

UNITED NATIONS — Yemen’s government and Houthi rebels have agreed on the first phase of a pullback of forces from the key city of Hodeida, in a deal the United Nations described on Sunday as important progress.

The redeployment from Hodeida is a critical part of a cease-fire deal reached in December in Sweden that calls on the government and Houthis to move forces away from ports and parts of the city.

The fragile truce deal marks the first step toward ending a devastating war that has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.

Following two days of talks in Hodeida city, the government and Houthis finalized a deal on the first phase of the pullback and also agreed in principle on the second phase, a UN statement said.

The talks were led by Danish General Michael Lollesgaard as chair of a redeployment coordination committee that includes the government and the Houthis.

“After lengthy but constructive discussions facilitated by the committee chair, the parties reached an agreement on Phase 1 of the mutual redeployment of forces,” said the UN statement.

The sides made “important progress on planning for the redeployment of forces” but no date was given to begin the demilitarization.

“The parties also agreed, in principle, on Phase 2 of the mutual redeployment, pending additional consultations within their respective leadership.”

The first phase provides for a pullback from the ports of Hodeida, Saleef, Ras Issa and from parts of the city where there are humanitarian facilities.

Under the Stockholm agreement, the pullback was supposed to have taken place two weeks after the cease-fire went into force on Dec 18, but that deadline was missed.

The UN is hoping that a de-escalation in Hodeida will allow desperately needed food and medical aid to reach millions in need in Yemen.

The Red Sea port is the entry point for the bulk of imported goods and relief aid to Yemen, which the UN has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

A new round is planned within a week to finalize details on the second phase of redeployment, the UN statement said.

The talks on Saturday and Sunday were the fourth meeting held to try to agree on the modalities of the pullback of forces since the cease-fire came into force on Dec 18.

The UN is also brokering a separate set of talks on an exchange of thousands of prisoners that is seen as a key confidence-building measure in the peace process.

UN envoy Martin Griffiths, who brokered the Stockholm deal, is due to report to the Security Council on Tuesday.