Yemen Army Accuses Houthis of Violating UN Truce in Marib, Taiz, Hodeidah

A Yemeni fighter backed by the Saudi-led coalition fires his weapon during clashes with the Houthis on the Kassara frontline near Marib, Yemen, June 20, 2021. (AP)
A Yemeni fighter backed by the Saudi-led coalition fires his weapon during clashes with the Houthis on the Kassara frontline near Marib, Yemen, June 20, 2021. (AP)
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Yemen Army Accuses Houthis of Violating UN Truce in Marib, Taiz, Hodeidah

A Yemeni fighter backed by the Saudi-led coalition fires his weapon during clashes with the Houthis on the Kassara frontline near Marib, Yemen, June 20, 2021. (AP)
A Yemeni fighter backed by the Saudi-led coalition fires his weapon during clashes with the Houthis on the Kassara frontline near Marib, Yemen, June 20, 2021. (AP)

The Yemeni army accused the Iran-backed Houthi militias of violating the recently declared truce in the country, specifically in the Marib, Taiz and Hodeidah provinces.

United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg announced the two-month truce on Friday at the intra-Yemeni consultations underway in Riyadh. The consultations are being sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and will conclude on April 7.

The terms of the truce include facilitating the entry of 18 fuel ships into the ports of Hodeidah and allowing two commercial flights a week to and from Sanaa airport. The terms also include convening a meeting between the parties to agree on opening roads in Taiz and elsewhere to improve civilians' freedom of movement inside Yemen.

Military spokesman Abdo Majali said the Houthis have not committed to the truce.

"As usual, the terrorist Houthi militias have met the truce with violations and reneging on pledges," he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He revealed that the Houthis launched on Sunday several infiltration operations and attacks on the southern and northwestern fronts in Marib. The military succeeded in thwarting all these operations.

The militias also launched the occasional armed drone and fired artillery at military positions in Hodeidah and the eastern front in Taiz, said Majali.

The UN truce was violated just hours after it went into effect on Saturday, he added.

In spite of the violations, he stressed that the army and Saudi-led Arab coalition were so far committed to the ceasefire.

"The army has not carried out any offensive attack and has only defended itself from the Houthi attacks," he stressed.

Coalition jets have also not carried out any flights or targeted any Houthi position.

In Riyadh, GCC Ambassador to Yemen Sarhan Al-Minaikher said the absence of any Yemeni party from the talks will not impact them.

He stressed, however, that the invitation is still open for any absentees to attend.

The Houthis have refused to head to the talks despite being invited.

Speaking after the conclusion of the latest round of talks on Sunday, Al-Minaikher said the GCC aims to bring together all Yemenis so that they can reach agreements and roadmap drawn up by themselves.

He noted that the truce will help allow the gatherers to achieve their aims at the talks.

Moreover, he remarked that the truce "was exactly what Saudi Arabia had called for in March 2021 when the coalition declared a ceasefire at the request of the GCC secretary-general."

One participant at the consultations described the sessions that have so far been held as "rare" in terms of their organization.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said this is the first time the Yemenis are being brought together and confronted with their problems.

He revealed that a general air of consensus has prevailed at the consultations, adding that the Houthis have missed an opportunity for themselves and Yemen.

He expressed his optimism that the consultations will be a success, because the GCC has thrown its political weight behind them.



Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.