Marib truce breaches could plunge Yemen back into war, says UN envoy

SMA NEWS – ADEN THE CAPITAL
UN peace envoy Hans Grundberg on Thursday said a ceasefire between Yemen’s warring forces was largely holding, but that outbreaks of violence in the central Marib region could drag the country back into war and turmoil.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Mr Grundberg said the two-month Ramadan truce that began this month offered “light at the end of the tunnel” for a nation ravaged by seven years of chaos and bloodshed.

The Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa, west coast ports and much of northern Yemen, have stopped launching cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of the internationally recognised government has halted its air-strike campaign, the Swedish diplomat told the council.

“Thus far, the agreement is broadly holding,” said Mr Grundberg.

“But it is still fragile and temporary. We need to work collectively and intensively in these coming weeks to ensure it does not unravel.”

Breaches have been reported around the central city of Marib, where Yemen’s government has accused the Houthis of attacking their positions.

The rebels had tried for more than a year to capture the energy-rich region from government forces, but their efforts were dashed in recent months due to growing coalition support to pro-government Yemeni forces.

The breaches were “concerning and must be addressed urgently”, Mr Grundberg added.