Ceasefire in Tatters as Pro-Saudi Forces Seize Yemen Cities

Military Touts Victory After 'Intensive Fighting'

The Yemen “ceasefire” that began Tuesday never really took hold, and now appears to be wholly in tatters, as 1,000 pro-Saudi troops, backed by heavy airstrikes, have moved into the Jawf capital of Hazm, the second city they’ve managed to take in three days of “truce.”

Saudi military officials touted the latest victory as the result of “intensive fighting” against the Shi’ite Houthis and forces loyal to the former Saleh government, and claimed to have seized dozens of fighters as detainees after the battle.

Interestingly, Saudi officials are still advancing the narrative that it is the Houthis who are really the ones violating the ceasefire, even though the only territory to exchange hands since it began Tuesday was territory seized by the Saudi coalition.

The ceasefire was meant to provide breathing room for negotiations in Geneva, and indications are that very little has been accomplished in negotiations and, ultimately, this is the second time the pro-Saudi faction has negotiated a week-long ceasefire only to use it as an excuse to seize territory.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.