Saudi Jets Bomb Hudaydah after Truce Deal
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Saudi warplanes pounded areas in Yemen’s western port city of Hudaydah, reports said, a day after a ceasefire agreement was reached by the warring parties at UN-sponsored peace talks.
Despite the ceasefire, one resident told Reuters he could hear the sound of missiles and automatic gunfire in the direction of the eastern 7th July suburb.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said Saudi-led warplanes had launched two strikes on Ras Isa city north of Hudaydah.
The warring sides agreed after a week of consultations in Sweden to cease fighting in Hudaydah and withdraw their troops as part of confidence-building measures to pave the way for a wider truce and political negotiations.
It was the first significant breakthrough for UN-led peace efforts to end the nearly four-year-old Saudi war on Yemen that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the Arab country to the brink of famine.
UN Envoy Martin Griffiths said at the end of the peace talks that both parties would withdraw “within days” from the port and then from the city. International monitors would be deployed and all armed forces would pull back completely within 21 days.
A Redeployment Coordination Committee including both sides and chaired by the United Nations would oversee implementation.
Both sides issued statements following the talks claiming they would ultimately control Hudaydah.
Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Friday that a robust monitoring regime was urgently needed in Hudaydah to oversee compliance with the truce. Such a monitoring mission needs a Security Council resolution, diplomats said.
He said retired Dutch Major General Patrick Cammaert agreed to lead monitoring and could arrive in the region within days.
The warring parties are due to hold another round of talks in January to discuss a framework for political negotiations.