- Yemen鈥檚 flashpoint city of Hodeida was calm on Tuesday聽after the UN-brokered cease-fire started at midnight
- An agreement reached after talks in Sweden last week calls for the withdrawal of both sides鈥� forces from Hodeidah
Yemen鈥檚 flashpoint city of Hodeida was calm on Tuesday after the UN-brokered cease-fire started at midnight, pro-government sources and residents said.
鈥淭here has been complete calm since 03:00 am Yemen time (1200 GMT) in the city of Hodeida,鈥� a military source loyal to the government told AFP on Tuesday.
The cease-fire agreement struck at the UN-sponsored peace talks in Sweden came into effect at midnight Monday.
Residents said that daily fighting would usually be fierce in the evening and at night, before coming to a standstill at dawn.
The two warring sides have however welcomed the truce in the strategic Red Sea province.
The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen鈥檚 government against Iran-backed Houthi militias 鈥渉as no intention of violating the agreement ... unless the Houthis violate and dishonor it,鈥� a coalition official said.
An agreement reached after talks in Sweden last week calls for the withdrawal of both sides鈥� forces from Hodeidah within 21 days and the deployment of international monitors. The Houthis are due to surrender control of the port by midnight on Dec. 31.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to propose a surveillance team of up to to 40 observers, diplomats said.
Hodeidah residents reported sporadic fighting to the east and south of the city on Monday before the cease-fire took hold, and a government military official said a fire had broken out in a factory in the east of the city after airstrikes on Sunday night.
(With AFP)