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Yemen: Saudi-led air strikes resume as five-day ceasefire ends Yemen: Saudi-led air strikes resume as five-day ceasefire ends
(3 days later)
Saudi-led coalition air strikes targeting Shia rebels have resumed in the southern port city of Aden after the end of a five-day humanitarian ceasefire, Yemeni security officials and witnesses said.Saudi-led coalition air strikes targeting Shia rebels have resumed in the southern port city of Aden after the end of a five-day humanitarian ceasefire, Yemeni security officials and witnesses said.
The ceasefire expired at 11pm Sunday local time, and coalition air strikes hit rebel positions and tanks in several neighbourhoods of Aden, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, and the witnesses requested anonymity because they feared reprisals. The ceasefire hadn’t stopped all fighting in Yemen between the Shia rebels, known as Houthis, and those opposing them.The ceasefire expired at 11pm Sunday local time, and coalition air strikes hit rebel positions and tanks in several neighbourhoods of Aden, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, and the witnesses requested anonymity because they feared reprisals. The ceasefire hadn’t stopped all fighting in Yemen between the Shia rebels, known as Houthis, and those opposing them.
Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of Yemeni politicians and tribal leaders began talks in Saudi Arabia on the future of their war-torn country, though the Houthis were not taking part. The Houthis have rejected the main aim of the three-day talks – the restoration of Yemen’s exiled president – and the location of the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. The absence of the Houthis means the national dialogue is unlikely to end the violence, which saw the rebels seize the capital, Sana’a, in September and ultimately force President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi into exile.Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of Yemeni politicians and tribal leaders began talks in Saudi Arabia on the future of their war-torn country, though the Houthis were not taking part. The Houthis have rejected the main aim of the three-day talks – the restoration of Yemen’s exiled president – and the location of the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. The absence of the Houthis means the national dialogue is unlikely to end the violence, which saw the rebels seize the capital, Sana’a, in September and ultimately force President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi into exile.
The UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, had opened the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday by calling on all parties to ensure that the shaky ceasefire leads to a lasting truce.The UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, had opened the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday by calling on all parties to ensure that the shaky ceasefire leads to a lasting truce.
“I call on all parties to refrain from any action that disturbs the peace of airports, main areas and the infrastructure of transport,” said Ahmed, who delivered the speech on behalf of Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general.“I call on all parties to refrain from any action that disturbs the peace of airports, main areas and the infrastructure of transport,” said Ahmed, who delivered the speech on behalf of Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general.
Since late March, Saudi Arabia has led air strikes against the Houthis and allied military units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The air campaign is aimed at weakening the Houthis and restoring Hadi, who fled the country in March in the face of a rebel advance.Since late March, Saudi Arabia has led air strikes against the Houthis and allied military units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The air campaign is aimed at weakening the Houthis and restoring Hadi, who fled the country in March in the face of a rebel advance.
“This conference taking place today is in support of politics and community, and rejects the coup,” Hadi told the gathering. He urged a return to the political road map through which Saleh stepped down after more than three decades in power following a 2011 Arab Spring-inspired uprising. Saleh’s ouster and the road map was backed and overseen by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which is headquartered in Saudi Arabia, as well as the UN and the US.“This conference taking place today is in support of politics and community, and rejects the coup,” Hadi told the gathering. He urged a return to the political road map through which Saleh stepped down after more than three decades in power following a 2011 Arab Spring-inspired uprising. Saleh’s ouster and the road map was backed and overseen by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which is headquartered in Saudi Arabia, as well as the UN and the US.
Among those taking part in the conference are members of Saleh’s former ruling party.Among those taking part in the conference are members of Saleh’s former ruling party.
Yemen’s conflict has killed more than 1,400 people – many of them civilians – since 19 March, according to the UN. The country of some 25 million people has endured shortages of food, water, medicine and electricity as a result of a Saudi-led blockade. Humanitarian organisations had been scrambling to distribute aid before the end of the truce. That includes an Iranian cargo ship carrying humanitarian aid to Yemen.Yemen’s conflict has killed more than 1,400 people – many of them civilians – since 19 March, according to the UN. The country of some 25 million people has endured shortages of food, water, medicine and electricity as a result of a Saudi-led blockade. Humanitarian organisations had been scrambling to distribute aid before the end of the truce. That includes an Iranian cargo ship carrying humanitarian aid to Yemen.
Iranian state television quoted Nasser Charkhsaz, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent’s Relief and Rescue Organisation, as saying that the ship is currently sailing in international waters near Oman’s Salalah port and will arrive at the Bab el-Mandeb strait between Yemen and Djibouti and Eritrea in two days.Iranian state television quoted Nasser Charkhsaz, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent’s Relief and Rescue Organisation, as saying that the ship is currently sailing in international waters near Oman’s Salalah port and will arrive at the Bab el-Mandeb strait between Yemen and Djibouti and Eritrea in two days.
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According to the report, the ship is scheduled to reach Yemen’s port city of Hodeida by Thursday.According to the report, the ship is scheduled to reach Yemen’s port city of Hodeida by Thursday.
Western countries accuse Shia power Iran of backing the Houthi rebels, something both the Islamic Republic and the rebels deny.Western countries accuse Shia power Iran of backing the Houthi rebels, something both the Islamic Republic and the rebels deny.
Meanwhile, a suspected US drone strike hit a car carrying a group of people believed to be al-Qaida fighters, Yemeni security officials said. The strike was in Shabwa province, where the extremist group has sent reinforcements. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters.Meanwhile, a suspected US drone strike hit a car carrying a group of people believed to be al-Qaida fighters, Yemeni security officials said. The strike was in Shabwa province, where the extremist group has sent reinforcements. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters.