Week of violations.. Houthis aggravate the suffering of Yemenis in Ramadan by violating truce
The Iranian-backed Houthi militia continued its crimes and terrorism against the Yemeni people, violating the ceasefire truce during the holy month of Ramadan.
In a week of violations, the terrorist militia bombed the cities of Marib and Taiz several times.
Fierce fighting
According to eyewitnesses, fighting on Friday was the most intense, with heavy Houthi shelling of several areas, and on Saturday the Houthis fired a ballistic missile into the central Yemeni city of Marib, despite the country’s new leader vowing to seek peace with the group and stabilize war-torn Yemen.
Tribal sources in Marib said: A large explosion rocked the densely populated city after it was hit by a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis, and there was no information of casualties.
Marib is hosting more than two million displaced people who have fled war and Houthi repression in their home provinces, the sources said.
Other battles
Sanaa employee Mohammed Masoum said: Houthi violations resulted in fierce fighting between government forces and the Houthis on Friday night and Saturday morning.
We learned from our relatives in Marib that the fighting there was very violent, especially in the Djouba area, he said.
The situation has become very difficult, said Mustafa Awni Taleb in Sanaa. The Houthis are not stopping bombing cities.
The sounds of bombing and explosions, the smell of gunpowder and blood spoiled the nights of Ramadan, he said. After the truce was over, it turned into a nightmare.
Friday’s fighting was the most intense, with a military official speaking on condition of anonymity saying, we managed to fend off Houthi attacks and destroyed one of their military vehicles.
The Yemeni military accused the Houthis of using the UN-brokered humanitarian truce that came into effect on April 2 to deploy new heavy weapons and forces while launching more aggressive attacks on the city of Marib, the official said.
International truce
The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced a halt to airstrikes on Houthi targets across the country in support of the truce and peace efforts.
UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg on Friday called on the warring factions to cease hostilities in Marib and abide by a truce.
I am closely following the latest developments in Marib and I urge all parties to show restraint and to remain committed to the truce as promised by the Yemenis, Grandberg said on Twitter.
The fighting raged as Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s newly-formed Presidential Command Council, pledged Friday to work to end the war and achieve a comprehensive peace agreement.
In his first address to the Yemeni people, al-Alimi said the new council will abide by the Gulf Co-operation Council’s 2011 initiative, the outcomes of national dialog conferences, the decisions of Yemeni consultations mediated by the Gulf Co-operation Council in Riyadh, international charters and UN Security Council resolutions.
He continued: The Presidential Command Council promises our Yemeni people to work to end the war and bring peace.
This council is a peace council, not a war council, but also a defense council, a force and a unit whose mission is to defend the sovereignty of the nation and protect the citizens, he said.
He thanked the Saudi-led coalition for its economic, political and humanitarian assistance to Yemen, pledging to fight terrorism and revive and reform state institutions.
On Thursday, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi transferred his presidential powers to the eight-member council, headed by al-Alimi, his adviser and former interior minister. The council was tasked with running the country and initiating peace talks with the Houthis.
