Small Wars Journal

Yemen Peace Hangs on Fragile Truce as Conflict Far From Over

Sun, 03/24/2019 - 11:41am

Yemen Peace Hangs on Fragile Truce as Conflict Far From Over by Mohamad Ali Harissi – AFP

Four years after Saudi Arabia led a military intervention in Yemen to back the government against rebels, the only hope for peace in a country threatened by famine hangs on a fragile truce.

Despite the Saudis entering the conflict on March 26, 2015 with a coalition composed of nine countries from the Middle East and Africa, Yemen's internationally-recognised government has failed to defeat the Huthi.

The Iran-aligned rebels continue to control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

And the conflict -- which the United Nations says has unleashed the world's worst humanitarian crisis and pushed the country to the brink of famine -- shows no sign of abating in the impoverished nation.

In December, the rival sides agreed to a ceasefire in the key lifeline Red Sea port of Hodeida -- just weeks after forces loyal to the government were able to enter the rebel-held city.

But even if major fighting has stopped, other elements of the accord -- including a prisoner swap -- have failed to materialise…

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