Heavy fighting broke out between forces of the Yemen government and the Houthi militia despite a two-month truce brokered by the UN, a military source said…reports Asian Lite News
The fighting took place on Monday at the frontline in the al-Balak al-Sharki mountain, a few kilometres to the south of the government-controlled city of Marib, capital of the namesake province, the source told Xinhua news agency.
“Several soldiers were wounded in the clashes,” he added.
According to the city’s residents, artillery fire and gun shots were heard throughout the day.
The Houthis are yet to comment on the development.
So far, the ceasefire has been largely held despite occasional accusations of breaches traded between the warring sides.
The UN-brokered ceasefire, meant to last two months, went into effect on April 2, marking the first major breakthrough in years to end the war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the country on the brink of starvation.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government out of the capital Sanaa.
Houthi attack Yemen government security centre despite truce
The Houthi rebels attacked a security centre of the Yemeni government in the southwestern province of Taiz, a military official said…reports Asian Lite News
“The Houthis used an explosive-laden drone in their attack against the headquarters of the pro-government security forces and the Civil Defence Authority in eastern Taiz,” the official told Xinhua news agency.
The officials revealed that more than eight security personnel were wounded in the drone attack.
The attack caused great panic among civilians, especially children and women who were in a park near the security centre, he said.
The Houthi rebel group based in the capital Sanaa has not commented on the incident yet.
This attack, if confirmed, will be another violation of the UN-brokered ceasefire declared in the war-ravaged Arab country on April 2.
The ceasefire, which is meant to last two months, has so far been largely held despite occasional accusations of breaches traded between the warring sides.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of Sanaa.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million, and pushed the country to the brink of starvation, according to the UN.
Seven Indian sailors, in captivity of Yemen’s Houthi rebels since January 2 along with their UAE-flagged merchant ship Rwabee, have been released…reports Asian Lite News
Seven Indian sailors, who were recently rescued from Houthi rebels in Yemen expressed their gratitude to the Narendra Modi government for safely bringing them back to India.
The Indians were among 14 foreigners who were taken captive when the Houthi rebels seized the UAE-flagged merchant vessel Rwabee in the Red Sea on January 2.
The External Affairs Ministry said that the sailors were freed with Oman assistance from the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Sunday and reached India from the Omani capital Muscat where they were transferred “on a plane belonging to the Royal Air Force of Oman.”
Pic credits Twitter @badralbusaidi
Mohammed Munwar Sameer Shaikh, one of the rescued sailors said: “We were stuck there for almost three and half months. The Indian government, our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), and the Indian embassy rescued us after tough negotiations. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts.”
” People from four other countries were also rescued along with us by the Indian government,” Shaikh added.
Another sailor named Mohmmad Jashim Khan, who hails from Lucknow echoed Shaikh’s sentiments and thanked the Indian government for coming to their rescue “The situation is grave in Yemen. Rebels wanted to capture our ship and its cargo, we were held captive too as we were the crew on the ship. They treated us well once they came to know that we are Indians,” he said.
#WATCH: Delhi | We were stuck there for 3.5 months. We're grateful that Indian Govt & the PM did tough negotiations & rescued us…:Mohmmad Munawar, Sailor from Mumbai
7 sailors held captive by Houthi rebels in Yemen were rescued by the Indian govt with the help of the Oman govt pic.twitter.com/oWI9nLzQEJ
” Indians who travel to foreign countries can always count should not fear anything — they can always count on their government,” he said.
Veera Venkata Suva Sai Girish, a third sailor who was among those rescued, said they will be able to return to their homes all due to the efforts of PM Modi.
Apart from seven Indians, three from the UK and one each from Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Ethiopia had been detained and kept in Yemen without trial.
On Monday, the Indian government thanked all the parties concerned for the release of the sailors, particularly the Omani government.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian government had been “exerting all efforts for the release of the Indian crew members over the past months.”
“Government of India had been in touch with various parties to ensure the safety and well-being of our sailors during this time. The issue was also taken up by the Indian delegation at the UN Security Council,” the MEA said.
Meanwhile, in January this year, two Indians were killed in a drone attack by the Houthis on Abu Dhabi. (ANI)
The first commercial flight scheduled to depart the Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport in Yemen’s capital in over six years has been delayed indefinitely amid accusations between the country’s warring sides…reports Asian Lite News
A flight of the flag carrier Yemenia Airways was scheduled to take off on Sunday morning, to transport passengers in need of medical treatment to Jordan’s capital Amman, as part of an essential step in the ongoing two-month truce, reports Xinhua news agency.
Just hours before the flight, the airline said it had not received permits and had to postpone the flight indefinitely, expressing “deep regret to the travellers”.
Raaid Jabal, deputy of the Houthi-controlled aviation authority in Sanaa, blamed the Yemen government for refusing to issue permits for the flight.
“This is considered a violation of the truce that was announced by the UN envoy for Yemen,” Jabal was quoted by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV as saying.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Minister of Information Moammar al-Eryani said in a tweet that the internationally-recognised government refused to greenlight the flight because some of the passengers do not possess “passports issued by the legitimate government”.
The government agreed to allow 104 passengers to board the plane, while the Houthi militia insisted on adding another 60 passengers with “unreliable passports”, said the Mnister, urging the UN to exert pressure on the rebels to “expedite the flight”.
The Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport has been closed to commercial flights since August 2016.
The group captured the ground area of the airport, and the Saudi-led coalition controlled the airspace over the Houthi-held city and its airport.
Only UN aid planes have been allowed to land and take off from the airport.
Also on Sunday, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed his concern over the postponement of the flight.
“I urge the parties to work constructively with me and my office to find a solution that allows the flights to resume as planned,” Grundberg said in a tweet.
Yemen’s warring sides agreed to implement from April 2 a UN-brokered ceasefire that was meant to last two months.
The truce includes the halt of all ground, aerial and naval military offensive operations; allowing the entry of 18 fuel ships into the Houthi-held port of Hodeidah and two commercial flights a week to and from the Sanaa airport; as well as lifting the siege to allow humanitarian aid access to the government-held Taiz city.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government out of Sanaa.
The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia last month…reports Asian Lite News
During a session on Monday, the UNSC expressed its expectation and demand that the Houthis abide by the terms of a “welcomed” truce, which came into effect on April 2, and immediately cease all cross-border attacks, the Arab News reported.
The Council also underscored the opportunity the truce affords to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of Yemenis and improve regional stability.
They further recalled the Houthis’ obligations under international law, including those related to the protection of civilians and civilian objects, it was reported.
The members urged the building of confidence through measures such as, but not limited to, the re-opening of Taiz road and the regular flow of fuel deliveries, goods, and flights, in accordance with the agreed truce, according to the report.
The Council also called on all parties to seize the opportunity provided by the truce and work with the UN Special Envoy to make progress towards a comprehensive ceasefire and an inclusive political settlement, it was reported.
“Return as a Yemeni political component that adheres to national constants, and come to the dialogue table to make peace,” Hadi said, reports Asian Lite News
Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has urged the Houthi militia to sit at the negotiating table with the government to reach a political settlement and end the seven-year civil war, the official Saba news agency reported.
“Return as a Yemeni political component that adheres to national constants, and come to the dialogue table to make peace,” Hadi made the call in a statement on Monday during a meeting with his government’s ministers in his residence in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
“Our hands stretch out to you for reaching a just and comprehensive peace and rebuilding our country,” he said, stressing that the ongoing truce is a big chance for all Yemenis to pave the way for “permanent peace”.
On Saturday, a two-month ceasefire brokered by the United Nations (UN) and agreed by the Yemeni warring parties entered into force, Xinhua news agency reported.
The truce includes the halt of all offensive ground, aerial and naval military operations, as well as facilitating the entry of 18 fuel ships into the ports of Hodeidah and allowing two commercial flights a week to and from the Sanaa International Airport.
The Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and the capital Sanaa are under the control of the Houthi militia.
The terms also include convening a meeting between the parties, to lift the siege, open the roads and allow humanitarian aid access to the government-held Taiz city.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg said the truce aims to give Yemenis a necessary break from violence, and relief from humanitarian suffering, stressing that the truce can be renewed beyond the two-month period with the consent of the Yemeni parties.
However, the government and Houthis have traded accusations of breaching the truce in the past two days.
The truce would be a major breakthrough in the seven-year civil war in Yemen if implemented, as previous ceasefire deals had all failed.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government of Hadi out of Sanaa.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million, and pushed the country to the brink of starvation, according to the UN.
The truce deal includes stopping military operations, opening Sanaa International Airport to a number of flights, and opening the port of Hodeidah to a number of oil derivatives ships, reports Asian Lite News
Yemen’s Houthi militia have welcomed an announcement of a two-month ceasefire agreement by the UN Special Envoy for the country, Hans Grundberg, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
“We welcome the announcement by the UN envoy for Yemen of a humanitarian truce for two months,” Xinhua news agency quoted Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam as saying in a statement.
“The truce deal includes stopping military operations, opening Sanaa International Airport to a number of flights, and opening the port of Hodeidah to a number of oil derivatives ships,” he said.
On Friday, the UN envoy announced earlier the truce between the warring parties in Yemen.
“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 Hodeidah ports and commercial flights to operate in and out of Sanaa 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,” Grundberg said.
“The truce can be renewed beyond the two-month period with the consent of the parties. The aim of this truce is to give Yemenis a necessary break from violence, relief from the humanitarian suffering, and most importantly hope that an end to this conflict is possible,” he added.
The envoy also said that he would work during the truce with the aim to reach a permanent ceasefire, addressing urgent economic and humanitarian measures and resuming the political process.
This is the first breakthrough in the seven-year civil war in Yemen.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million and pushed the country to the brink of starvation, according to UN.
Saudi blacklists 25 individuals entities over financing Houthis
Yemen’s Houthi militia has announced that they are ready to swap 823 prisoners of the Saudi-led coalition forces for 1,400 Houthi militants…reports Asian Lite News
The prisoner exchange agreement was reached on March 21 under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), Abdulkadir al-Murtada, Head of the Houthi prisoner committee, was quoted by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV as saying.
The 823 prisoners are composed of 804 Yemeni soldiers and political detainees, 16 Saudi soldiers, and three Sudanese soldiers. The release of Nasser Mansour Hadi, the brother of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and Mahmoud al-Subaihi, the former Defense Minister of Hadi’s government, was part of the deal, according to Abdulkadir al-Murtada.
The Houthis have informed the UN of their willingness to exchange prisoners and are waiting for the publication of a name list from the other side, which is scheduled on March 29 as agreed upon by both sides, according to the Houthi official.
The UN, the Saudi-led coalition, and the Yemeni government have yet to confirm the prisoner swap deal, Xinhua news agency reported.
Around 15,000 people were reportedly held in the Yemeni government and Houthi jails.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of Hadi out of Sanaa.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in the Yemeni civil war in an attempt to reinstate the Hadi government.
On Sunday, the Houthis announced the start of a three-day unilateral ceasefire with the Saudi-led coalition, voicing their commitment to a permanent truce if the coalition stops airstrikes and withdraws its forces.
Yemen accuses Houthi of attacking oil-rich province despite truce
A three-day unilateral ceasefire announced by the Houthis in Yemen with the Saudi-led coalition has come into force, the militia group’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News
According to the Ministry, the ceasefire was implemented at 6 p.m. on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.
A day earlier, the Houthis voiced their commitment to a permanent truce if the coalition ends airstrikes and withdraws forces.
“We will suspend cross-border missile and drone attacks and all military actions against Saudi Arabia for a period of three days. If Saudi Arabia would agree to end its airstrikes and blockade against Yemen, we are ready to turn this declaration into a final and permanent commitment,” said Mahdi al-Mashat, president of the Houthi militia’s Supreme Political Council.
“The initiative includes the suspension of all ground battles on all frontlines including the province of Marib,” al-Mashat added, on the occasion marking the entering of the Yemeni civil war into its eighth year.
The Houthi political leader also proposed a deal to swap all prisoners, including the brother of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, with the Saudi-led coalition forces.
“We call on the UN envoy to facilitate the exchange of all prisoners,” al-Mashat said.
The Houthi initiative came hours after the coalition forces launched heavy airstrikes on Houthis’ vital military and economic sites in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and the capital Sanaa in retaliation for Houthis’ cross-border missile and drone attacks against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia this week.
The Houthi militia recently intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia after it lost several strategic districts in the oil-rich provinces of Marib and Shabwa during its fighting against the Yemeni government army in the past two months.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of Hadi out of Sanaa.
The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened on March 26, 2015 in the Yemeni civil war in an attempt to reinstate the government of President Hadi.
UN Chief condemns attacks on civilian facilities in Saudi, Yemen
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned attacks that targeted civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia and Yemen…reports Asian Lite News
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about reports of ongoing airstrikes in Hodeidah city and the targeting of Hodeidah’s ports, which provide a critical humanitarian lifeline for the Yemeni population,” the UN chief’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement.
Over 23 million Yemenis face hunger, disease, and other life-threatening risks as the country’s basic services and economy are collapsing, the UN Office for Humanitarian Coordination (OCHA) had said.
Houthi forces in Yemen, also known as Ansar Allah, attacked Saudi Arabian civil and energy facilities on Friday, including an oil facility in Jeddah, sparking a massive fire that sent a column of black smoke into the sky, reports Xinhua news agency.
At least 8 people killed in Saudi-led coalition airstrikes
The Saudi-backed coalition of nine countries assisting the Yemeni official government in fighting the Houthis, responded by striking three militia seaports — Hodeidah, Salif and Sanaa — killing eight civilians, including five children and two women, on Saturday.
“These airstrikes also resulted in damage to the UN staff residential compound in Sanaa,” Dujarric added.
The UN chief is calling for “a swift and transparent investigation into these incidents to ensure accountability”, the spokesman continued.
As the conflict enters its eighth year, the UN chief reiterated his calls on all parties to “exercise maximum restraint, immediately de-escalate, cease hostilities and abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution”.
He also urged the parties to “engage constructively, and without preconditions, with his special envoy to reduce violence and urgently reach a negotiated settlement to end the conflict in Yemen”.
Meanwhile, news media reported that Ansar Allah said it would suspend for three days missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, saying the unilateral peace initiative could be a lasting commitment if the Saudi-led coalition stopped airstrikes and lifted port restrictions.
The Saudi-backed coalition has been fighting the Houthis for seven years in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government.
The coalition has carried out thousands of air strikes, killing tens of thousands of people, according to the UN.
