According to reports on Saudi state-run TV, Saudi warplanes attacked an air base
in the Yemeni capital city of Sanaa. The official narrative claimed
they saw a drone on the ground “preparing to carry out an attack.”
This was the first major attack since last week’s peace talks. The
attacks hit the immediate outskirts of the Sanaa International Airport,
which during the peace talks was agreed to be safely reopened.
Meanwhile, the other major agreement of the talks, the ceasefire in
Hodeidah, continues to tentatively hold. Both sides are accusing the
other of violations, and locals are reporting explosions and gunfire somewhat throughout the day.
Still, the ceasefire is more or less holding, for now. Officials are
urging the UN to scramble monitors into the area to keep an eye on the
ceasefire, with hopes that the deal can be saved.
Under the deal, all factions are to remove forces from Hodeidah within
21 days of the ceasefire, which began Tuesday. The pullouts still aren’t
really happening, but this is unsurprising as both sides don’t trust
the other to keep their bargain without UN monitors in place.
The Saudis are trying very hard to sabotage this. The Houthis should stick to the deal but keep their fingers on the trigger.