Yemen ceasefire under strain despite Houthi withdrawal from border
Friday 15 May 2015 12:33 BST
Last update:
Friday 15 May 2015
News of bloody clashes in the southern city of Taiz came amid reports that Houthi second-in-command has been killed
Houthi fighters withdrew almost completely from the border area between Saudi Arabia and Yemen on Friday morning, as their fighters engaged in fierce fighting in the south of the country.
The Houthi withdrawal, first reported by Sky News Arabia, came after a ceasefire announced by Saudi Arabia that has held since Tuesday despite reports of violations by the Houthis.
The militia group, which has been pounded by airstrikes from a Saudi-led coalition since late March, appeared on the back foot on Friday after reports of the death of a top field commander, Abu Ali al-Hakim.
Saudi-owned al-Arabiya said he died as a result of injuries sustained in a previous attack.
The news, which is yet to be confirmed by the group, would be a “huge blow” to the Houthis, according to Hisham al-Omeisy, a Yemeni analyst living in the capital Sanaa.
- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/despite-houthi-withdrawal-border-yemen-ceasefire-shaken-fighting-1588336699#sthash.BlH94zbo.dpuf
