Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and Iran-backed rebels on Thursday agreed to end hostilities around the Red Sea port of Hodeida, a breakthrough in a war that has dragged on for three years and brought the Arab world’s poorest country to the brink of famine.
Yemen’s foreign minister shook hands with the Houthi rebel envoy, a major gesture capping a week of intense UN-backed negotiations in Sweden.
The warring sides pledged to pull their troops out of Hodeida, which is the largest port of entry for humanitarian and commercial goods to the import-dependent country.
“There is a ceasefire declared for the whole governorate of Hodeida in the agreement and there will be both from the city and the harbor a withdrawal of all forces,” United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said in comments reported by AFP.
A rumored deal to reopen the airport in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, was not announced but is reportedly on the table for a second round of talks scheduled at the end of January.
Houthi rebels overran Sanaa and huge swathes of the country in September 2014, prompting an intervention by neighboring Saudi Arabia on the side of the government less than a year later.
Saudi Arabia views the Shiite Houthis as a proxy of its rival Iran, and it launched a military coalition in Yemen in March 2015 vowing to roll back rebel gains and restore the government to power. The Saudi-led air war and blockades of the coast and airspace have exacerbated Yemen’s longstanding struggle for food security, putting 14 million people at risk of starvation. The United Nations found in August that Riyadh and its partner the UAE could be guilty of war crimes in Yemen.
The talks come in parallel to mounting pressure by US lawmakers on the Trump administration to end support for the Saudi-led war.
Pick up the phone.
Call your Senator.
Tell them you will be watching their vote on ending U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen. pic.twitter.com/KmJhHUOkhd
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 12, 2018
Republican senators on Wednesday joined Democrats in sufficient numbers to advance a resolution that would halt US support for its longstanding ally. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the measure Thursday at 1:45 EST.
I usually understand these matters, but cannot put the pieces together here. The US has been an actually ally of KSA in the war on Yemen. Yes, I know that MbS is not the US establishment’s guy and overthrew MbN, who was, but that was a couple of years ago. Okay, MbS had Khashoggi killed and Khashoggi was working with the US, Turkey, and the Muslim Brotherhood, but even so, the turnaround in the US is breathtaking.
I usually understand these matters, but cannot put the pieces together here. The US has been an actually ally of KSA in the war on Yemen. Yes, I know that MbS is not the US establishment’s guy and overthrew MbN, who was, but that was a couple of years ago. Okay, MbS had Khashoggi killed and Khashoggi was working with the US, Turkey, and the Muslim Brotherhood, but even so, the turnaround in the US is breathtaking.
Houthies should not trust UN and Sweden,
Houthies should not trust UN and Sweden,
These guys can shake hands. But to stop the war the Saudi dictators and the US war mechine should decide. Very sad story.
These guys can shake hands. But to stop the war the Saudi dictators and the US war mechine should decide. Very sad story.
Who can trust the US & Saudi killers.
Who can trust the US & Saudi killers.
Thanks to America Iraq is ruled by Iran & Russia.
Thanks to America Iraq is ruled by Iran & Russia.
Who is the biggest war criminal. the one committing the atrocities in Yemen or the one supplying the weapons to do so.
Who is the biggest war criminal. the one committing the atrocities in Yemen or the one supplying the weapons to do so.
CORRECTION:There is no Iran backed Houthi’s. Yemen is completely blockaded by US, UAE, Sausi Arabia and with Air cover by Israel. Can you tell me how Iran is helping Yemen? Your Jewish news continues to spew lies.
CORRECTION:There is no Iran backed Houthi’s. Yemen is completely blockaded by US, UAE, Sausi Arabia and with Air cover by Israel. Can you tell me how Iran is helping Yemen? Your Jewish news continues to spew lies.