As Ramadan gets started, the UN announced a surprise breakthrough on the ceasefire in Yemen, which appeared unlikely until today. They now say both sides have agreed to a full two-month ceasefire, beginning Saturday.
This will be the first nationwide truce in Yemen in years, and gives the war-weary population a nice break. UN officials say the truce is negotiated so it could be voluntarily extended easily.
The UN started with a ceasefire meant for just the month of Ramadan, but the Houthis were resisting when it didn’t include any easing of the naval blockade.
Exact terms aren’t public yet, but the blockade is indeed to be eased some. Fuel shipments to al-Hodeidah port will be eased, and certain flights into the capital of Sanaa will also be allowed.
All this and more was a priority for the Houthis, who pointed out that the ceasefire wouldn’t mean much if it left the blockade intact. Between food and medical shortages from the blockade, the Houthis reported, quite credibly, that more people are being killed in that than in direct fighting.
Ceasefires don’t always hold like people hoped, but if this one does, this is a major chance to not just temporarily restore calm, but to start making serious efforts that could lead to a proper peace process.
It is a start toward what is needed.
It suggests to me that things are happening behind the reported news. That is, a failure of journalism to report what is happening.
Two months, will not hold. But maybe for the most part.
How crazy. This goes on only because that prince whatever in Saudi Arabia started it, and now doesn’t want to look like a fool. But I must say I’ve always been surprised the Saudis didn’t send in their military. Maybe they don’t have the capacity for it.
Same way I was surprised that Turkey couldn’t just roll over the Maoist, drug-smuggling YPG in northern Syria. They have the second largest army in NATO and they’re right next door. Perhaps in both cases they could speed things up, but they don’t want the casualties.
My man, in actual wars it is all about real abilities not illusionary skillsets. Saudis tried it in the early days and hundreds of their troops were taken out. Saudis armed forces r nothing but a bunch of incompetent fatties and never actually trained seriously a day in their life, they would’ve been no match for men who have nothing to lose.
Will the ceasefire hold for the entire month of Ramadan? I created a prediction market here to track our sentiment on this question, come weigh in.
Let’s hope for the best … other than what has been going on in the Congo area on and off for so many years, this has been the worst current war going on. Let’s hope the Saudis are giving up.
Only if Saudis don’t break this ceasefire like they have done numerously before…!