The Yemen ceasefire appears to be long forgotten this weekend, with pro-Saudi forces launching a new offensive against the Maarib Province in central Yemen, sparking two days of heavy fighting which left at least 69 killed and dozens wounded.
Officials from the pro-Saudi forces claimed that they’d taken “several areas” in the Maarib and Shabwa Provinces in the new push, and that 22 of their fighters were among the slain. They added that the fighting was ongoing.
Witnesses in the area reported a number of destroyed armored vehicles, and that the death toll would probably rise, with many dead bodies left around the areas of fighting uncollected.
The ceasefire in Yemen had mostly held since early April, though Saudi airstrikes were virtually constant throughout. They were meant primarily as calm for the Kuwait peace talks, though pro-Saudi forces have abandoned that peace process after a demand that the Houthis unilaterally surrender went unaccepted.