Rebels stage new attacks on second day of Yemen truce

People shop at the old market in the Houthi-held Yemeni capital of Sanaa on October 21, 2016, as the rebels staged attacks elsewhere in the country on the second day of a 72-hour truce. Mohamed Al SayShow more

ADEN // Houthi rebels broke the ceasefire in Yemen for the second day on Friday, attacking pro-government forces in the city of Taez and in Marib province.

Malik Al Samei, a loyalist forces leader in Taez, said the Houthis had carried on firing from east and west and were exploiting the ceasefire to bring reinforcements from the port of Hodeidah to Taez province and were preparing for battle after the 72-hour truce ended at midnight on Saturday. “This ceasefire is just a rest for them,” he said. “We are not firing back, because we respect the ceasefire and believe in a peaceful solution.”

Abdullah Abu Asa’ad witnessed ceasefire violations from the front line in Sirwah district in Marib and said pro-government fighters had been wounded in Houthi attacks in Wadi Al Maghaweer, west of Sirwah, which continued until Friday afternoon.

“The Houthis are not abiding by the ceasefire whereas the government side are only responding to attacks and trying to avoid targeting the Houthis,” he said.

The Saudi-led coalition have not resumed air strikes on Houthi positions, he added.

The Saudi-led coalition accused Yemeni rebels of repeatedly breaching the ceasefire on Thursday, the first day when at least 11 people were killed in sporadic clashes between rebels and pro-government forces, despite all sides insisting they would stop fighting.

Five previous ceasefires have failed but hopes were high this time because of intensified international pressure following an escalation of combat.

But Maj Gen Ahmed Al Assiri, the coalition spokesman, said: “There is no ceasefire at all. This is the same situation as the last time we called for a ceasefire.”

* With additional reporting from Agence France-Presse