Yemen Crisis: Agreement on ‘Phase 1’ of Redeploying Forces in ‘Hudaydah’

By Staff, Agencies

The Ansarullah revolutionaries agreed with Saudi-backed militants loyal to the ex-Yemeni government on "Phase 1" of their mutual redeployment of forces under a UN-sponsored deal for the warring parties to leave the Yemeni port city of al-Hudaydah, the UN said Sunday.

"The parties reached an agreement on Phase 1 of the mutual redeployment of forces" after two days of talks in al-Hudaydah, a statement by the UN spokesman's office said.

The talks were led by Danish General Michael Lollesgaard as chair of a redeployment coordination committee [RCC] that includes the Saudi-backed forces and the Ansarullah.

"After lengthy but constructive discussions facilitated by the RCC Chair, the parties reached an agreement on Phase 1 of the mutual redeployment of forces," said the UN statement.

Under Phase 1, the Ansarullah are to withdraw from the ports of al-Hudaydah, Saleef and Ras Isa to be met by a retreat of coalition forces from the eastern outskirts of the city, where battles raged before a ceasefire went into effect on December 18.

The forces are to be withdrawn from parts of the city where there are humanitarian facilities, the statement said.

The sides made "important progress on planning for the redeployment of forces" but no date was given to begin the demilitarization.

"The parties also agreed, in principle, on Phase 2 of the mutual redeployment, pending additional consultations within their respective leadership."

The redeployment of forces is a critical part of the truce deal reached during UN-mediated peace talks in Sweden in December between representatives from the Ansarullah movement and the Riyadh-sponsored government of ex-president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

Under the Stockholm agreement, the pullback was supposed to have taken place two weeks after the ceasefire went into force on December 18, but that deadline was missed.