The Yemeni peace talks in Sweden have ended on a high note on Thursday, with an agreement for more talks in January, and most importantly, a deal for a ceasefire in the vital aid port of Hodeidah.
Under the deal, both sides have agreed to withdraw all fighters from the area around Hodeidah within the next 21 days. The UN will oversee the withdrawal and is expected to play a role in monitoring the port.
The port deal appears to be broadly what was proposed by the UN and the Houthis in the first place. The Hadi government had previously rejected this plan, and demanding the Houthis disarm and surrender the city to them.
Further talks have been scheduled for late January, which is going to focus on trying to come up with a framework for a political settlement of the war. This round of talks got a lot more done than anyone expected, and has many hopeful about the next round.
Merry Christmas (War is… Postponed?)