According to United Arab Emirates Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar
Gargash, the Saudi-led coalition is preparing to “save” the ceasefire in
the Yemen aid port of Hodeidah by violating the ceasefire and attacking the Shi’ite Houthis.
The ceasefire deal has held, mostly, though the two sides both accuse
the other of violations. A deal that would see both sides withdraw
forces from around the port was never completed, however.
Gargash says that the only way to “save” the ceasefire is to force the
Houthis to withdraw all their forces. The Saudi side never withdrew from
the region either, however, and launching a fight in Hodeidah seems to
be the exact opposite of withdrawing from it.
The UN has been trying to negotiate with both sides on fulfilling the
pledged pullout. The problem is neither side wants to move large numbers
first, fearing the other side would use that as an opportunity to
attack what’s left and seize the city. The Saudi-led forces seem to be
planning to do this at any rate, however, even without the pullout
beginning.
Saudi Coalition Threatens to Attack Yemen Aid Port to ‘Save’ Ceasefire Deal
UAE says preserving ceasefire means attacking Houthis
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.
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