Houthis Shun Ceasefire by Escalating in Jawf, Bayda, Maarib

Photo: Mohammed Huwais, AFP
Photo: Mohammed Huwais, AFP
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Houthis Shun Ceasefire by Escalating in Jawf, Bayda, Maarib

Photo: Mohammed Huwais, AFP
Photo: Mohammed Huwais, AFP

Houthi militias have eluded abiding by a one-month ceasefire announced earlier this month by the legitimate government in Yemen by escalating their military attacks in Al Jawf, Bayda, and Maarib provinces.

The head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council Mahdi Al-Mashat ordered Friday the deployment of additional fighters at the Yemeni fronts and called on merchants to pay more zakat.

Early in April, the Riyadh-led military coalition fighting Houthi rebels has declared a two-week ceasefire in the country in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

On Friday, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote on his Twitter account that the announcement by Saudi Arabia of a month-long extension to its unilateral ceasefire in Yemen helps create the conditions for a negotiated, political solution to this conflict. The Yemeni parties need to work with Yemen’s envoy Martin Griffiths to grasp this opportunity.

Meanwhile, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that some mosque preachers, loyal to the militias, were calling on worshipers to send their sons to Houthi military camps and to donate money for the military efforts.

“The insurgent militia asked its leaderships in the provinces surrounding Sanaa to prepare 2,000 recruits for later sending them to the fighting fronts in Maarib and Al Jouf,” the source said.

Observers believe that the pro-Iranian militia would not deescalate its fighting or even accept the new ceasefire.

On Friday, spokesman for the coalition forces, Colonel Turki al-Maliki affirmed that the coalition leadership decided to extend the ceasefire for a month starting from April 23, 2020, based on its previous declaration of a two-week ceasefire and at the request of Griffiths to establish to allow the warring parties to make progress in negotiations on a permanent armistice.

The Saudi Press Agency SPA quoted Maliki as saying that the decision came to allow the parties to the conflict to agree on the most important economic and humanitarian measures to resume the political process.

Houthis did not comment on the Coalition’s extension of the ceasefire.

Instead, the militia claimed on Friday that its fighters had fully seized the al-Labinat military camp from the Yemeni official army in the northern governorate of al-Jawf.



UN Envoy Calls for Comprehensive Yemen Peace, Rejects ‘Wartime Mentality’

Yemeni Prime Minister Meets UN Envoy in Aden (Saba)
Yemeni Prime Minister Meets UN Envoy in Aden (Saba)
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UN Envoy Calls for Comprehensive Yemen Peace, Rejects ‘Wartime Mentality’

Yemeni Prime Minister Meets UN Envoy in Aden (Saba)
Yemeni Prime Minister Meets UN Envoy in Aden (Saba)

The United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, on Wednesday called for a comprehensive Yemeni-led political settlement to end the long-running conflict between the internationally recognized government and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, warning against what he described as a prevailing “war mindset.”

Grundberg’s appeal came at the close of his visit to the southern port city of Aden, the seat of the internationally backed government.

In a statement issued by his office, the envoy said he had met with Yemeni Prime Minister, Salem Bin Buraik, and engaged in discussions with members of civil society and women leaders of political parties and components.

During talks with Bin Buraik, the two discussed recent developments in Yemen and the wider region, and their impact on the peace process. Grundberg underscored the need to advance a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political path supported by the region.

Grundberg discussed priorities to curb further economic deterioration, including enabling the Government of Yemen to resume oil and gas exports. Welcoming recent progress on the opening of Al Dhale'a road, he stressed that the opening of more roads is critical to facilitate freedom of trade and movement of people across Yemen.

Grundberg welcomed efforts for de-escalation across frontlines and stressed the importance of moving away from a war mindset towards a just political settlement to the conflict in Yemen. In that context, he encouraged the formation of a joint inclusive negotiation delegation by the Government of Yemen to prepare for future talks.

“All stakeholders have a responsibility to move Yemen from a status of 'no war no peace' towards a long-term settlement through credible actions, accountable leadership, and a genuine commitment to peace,” he noted.

During discussions in Aden, the envoy also raised concerns over the detention of UN and aid workers by Houthi forces. He warned that these detentions undermine trust and hamper efforts to create a conducive environment for peace negotiations.

Grundberg reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to diplomatic engagement to secure the release of those held.

The Special Envoy also met with representatives of civil society and partisan women's groups to hear their views on the peace process and the challenges facing their communities, including the dire economic situation.

He reiterated the UN's commitment to ensuring that diverse Yemeni voices remain central to efforts toward a sustainable and inclusive peace.

The Yemeni political and public spheres remain marked by deep uncertainty over the prospects of reaching a broad peace agreement with the Houthi movement after more than a decade since their takeover disrupted the national consensus.

On the government side, state media reported that Bin Buraik discussed with the UN envoy ongoing efforts to restore peace in Yemen and opportunities to revive the stalled peace process, aiming to end the suffering caused by what officials described as the systematic Houthi aggression and their ties to Iran.

According to the official Saba news agency, Bin Buraik received updates from Grundberg on his recent diplomatic moves and contacts aimed at breaking the political deadlock amid evolving regional and international developments.

The meeting also highlighted continued Houthi detention of UN staff, local and international aid workers, and diplomatic personnel — actions described as “a blatant violation of international humanitarian law” that obstruct humanitarian aid efforts.

As Grundberg pushes to revive Yemen’s stagnant peace process, Bin Buraik reiterated his government’s commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the internationally endorsed three references, chiefly UN Security Council Resolution 2216.

Bin Buraik told official sources that “the success of any political approach to achieve peace in Yemen requires addressing the root cause of the conflict: ending the Houthi coup and recognizing the militia’s destructive approach to the security and stability of Yemen, the region, and the world.”

Despite a fragile ceasefire in place since the UN-brokered truce in April 2022, fears persist over a return to fighting, fueled by the Houthi group’s growing military capabilities backed by Iran.

The Houthis have further complicated peace prospects by exploiting the Israel-Gaza war and escalating their involvement in the regional conflict since November 2023. They targeted commercial shipping under the pretext of supporting Palestinians, actions that have disrupted the peace process.

Since November 2023, the Houthi escalation has also effectively frozen a peace roadmap brokered by Saudi Arabia and Oman. The plan included steps to address humanitarian and economic issues as a foundation for reaching a comprehensive political agreement.

Despite ongoing international, UN, and regional efforts, analysts say the prospects for peace in Yemen largely depend on a shift in Houthi behavior and their willingness to make genuine concessions after years marked by excessive violence and regional entanglement.