Sporadic incidents of aggression were reported from Yemen on Wednesday despite a ceasefire between Houthi forces and the Saudi-led coalition taking effect. The five-day halt in violence is aimed at bringing aid to the warzone.
Residents in Yemen’s southern and eastern areas reported fighting on Wednesday, despite Houthis and the Arab alliance announcing a ceasefire at midnight, DW reported.
The Saudi-led warplanes last bombarded Houthi positions at the port of Aden through the late hours of Tuesday. The alliance flew some reconnaissance planes on Wednesday, which prompted some firing from Houthis, but that lasted briefly, eye witnesses said.
There were also some reports of skirmishes in the country’s southern provinces of Daleh and Shabwa and from Marib in the east. However, all fighting had ceased by Wednesday morning, residents reported. The UN Security Council welcomed the pause, but called for warring parties to discuss peace.
Riyadh had warned Houthi forces of punishing any breach in the ceasefire and that the truce was conditional on Houthis reciprocating and not exploiting it for military advantage.
The Yemen conflict has resulted in massive humanitarian suffering. More than 1,200 have been killed in the Yemen conflict, among them many civilians. More than 4,000 are injured, tens of thousands have fled their homes to escape violence and the country’s infrastructure is “on the brink of collapse,” according to the UN.
Saudi Arabia began airstrikes on the country on March 26 to wipe out Houthi forces.
