FILE PHOTO: A look at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen May 10, 2017. REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad/File Photo
Yemen’s warring parties have agreed to a two-month ceasefire that will allow fuel ships to enter Houthi-held al-Hudaydah port and select flights from Sanaa International Airport, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Gruenberg, announced on April 1.
In a statement, Gruenberg said that the nationwide ceasefire, which will go into effect on April 2, could be renewed with the consent of the parties.
“The parties accepted to halt all offensive military air, ground and maritime operations inside Yemen and across its borders; they also agreed for fuel ships to enter into Hudaydah ports and commercial flights to operate in and out of Sana’a airport to predetermined destinations in the region; they further agreed to meet under my auspices to open roads in Taiz and other governorates in Yemen. The Truce can be renewed beyond the two-month period with the consent of the parties,” the envoy said in the statement.
Gruenberg noted that the breakthrough ceasefire would not have been possible without international and regional support. The envoy also promised to work during the next two months to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement.
“This Truce is a first and long overdue step. All Yemeni women, men and children that have suffered immensely through over seven years of war expect nothing less than an end to this war. The parties must deliver nothing less,” Gruenberg said.
The UN-brokered ceasefire was welcomed by both the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis (Ansar Allah).
Foreign Minister in the Saudi-backed government, Ahmed Bin Mubarak, he will be facilitating arrangements for the release of prisoners, opening Sanaa International Airport and allowing fuel vessels to dock at al-Hudaydah port.
“In implementation of that directive, we immediately announce the release of the first two fuel ships through al-Hudaydah port,” the minister said on Twitter.
Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam welcomed the ceasefire. Another senior Houthi official, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, called for cautious.
“The ceasefire announced by the [UN] envoy will be credible with implementation … And our Yemeni people should be careful,” al-Houthi said in a tweet.
Both the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis announced short ceasefires a few days before the UN announcement. The two sides also exchanged peace initiatives.
The UN-brokered ceasefire in Yemen is unprecedented in both its scale and conditions, which fulfill the demands of all warring parties. The ceasefire could become a turning point in the Yemeni peace process, if the UN manage to build trust between all parties, especially between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition.
Saudi be like “Owie hard to see you light candles when oil price is up– so … Friends?”
Houthi be like “Friends then” eyes on to iran who is clearing his throat “ehm”
Then saudi and houthis awkwardly shaking hand like two disagreeable student in front of their teacher.
The UN-brokered ceasefire? that took how many years? The UN turns it back to some countries yet professes to care when it comes to Yemen. My guess, the saudi admin gave up pumping their beloved money into a military black hole.
The longer the conflict went on, the better results the Houthis got with missiles. So, it’s probably best they make friends before the Houthis build something that will really cause headaches in downtown Riyadh.
They are trying desperately to stop the high oil price.
Looks like someone is worried in the world of more attacks on oil fields in Saudi Arabia = higher oil price…guess its US and A and EuCropolis
Houthis are Lions ❤️ Zionists and Wahhabis are butthurt lol
🤬🤬🤬
the un is a tool of oligarch billionairs and western technocrats and a vehicle for the great reset