Saudi-led coalition ending Yemen ceasefire, state news agency says
- 8 years ago
A Saudi-led coalition that has been bombing the Houthi movement in Yemen for nine months announced on Saturday the end of a ceasefire that began on Dec. 15, the Saudi state news agency SPA said, in a setback to attempts to end the conflict.
The ceasefire began in tandem with peace talks sponsored by the United Nations, but it was repeatedly violated by both sides.
Nearly 6,000 people have been killed since the Saudi coalition entered the conflict in March, almost half of them civilians.
"The leadership of the coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen announces the end of the truce in Yemen beginning at 1400 (1100 GMT) on Saturday," the agency said.
"The coalition has been and still is keen to create the right conditions to find a peaceful solution," the statement said.
But the ceasefire could not be maintained because of "the continuation of the Houthi militias and Saleh forces in violating it."
The ceasefire began in tandem with peace talks sponsored by the United Nations, but it was repeatedly violated by both sides.
Nearly 6,000 people have been killed since the Saudi coalition entered the conflict in March, almost half of them civilians.
"The leadership of the coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen announces the end of the truce in Yemen beginning at 1400 (1100 GMT) on Saturday," the agency said.
"The coalition has been and still is keen to create the right conditions to find a peaceful solution," the statement said.
But the ceasefire could not be maintained because of "the continuation of the Houthi militias and Saleh forces in violating it."