Saudi’s ceasefire ‘meaningless’ amid all-out siege: Top Ansarullah official

A senior member of Yemen’s popular Ansarullah resistance movement has dismissed the Saudi-led coalition’s announcement that it would halt military operations during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, stating that the measure is utterly meaningless as long as the brutal siege against the impoverished country is in full effect.

“The Yemen blockade is considered a military action because it was imposed by force of arms. If the siege is not lifted, the coalition’s announcement of the cessation of military operations will be meaningless,” Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of Ansarullah's political bureau, wrote in a post published on his Twitter page on Wednesday.

He added, “The suffering of the Yemenis as a result of the [Saudi-led] blockade is more severe than the war itself. This means the continuation of Yemeni military operations aimed at breaking the siege.”

Late on Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition announced a ceasefire and said it would take effect as of Wednesday morning.

“The joint forces command of the coalition announces a halt of military operations in Yemen beginning at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) Wednesday, March 30, 2022,” Saudi state news agency SPA reported, citing a statement from the coalition’s spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki.

This “coincides with the launch of Yemeni-Yemeni consultations [in Riyadh] with the aim of creating the appropriate conditions for their success and creating a positive environment during the holy month of Ramadan for peace making in Yemen,” it added.

Ansarullah has shunned the meeting in Riyadh that is hosted by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and involves representatives from the Saudi-backed administration of Yemen's fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi as well as US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking. The Yemeni resistance movement says it won’t travel to enemy territory for talks.

The Saudi-led coalition’s truce came after Ansarullah chief urged the Riyadh regime to seize on his group’s ceasefire to immediately stop its aerial attacks and crippling siege against Yemen.

Ansarullah says it won’t host 'incompetent' UN envoy in Sana’a

Meanwhile, Mashat stated on Tuesday that the Sana’a-based National Salvation Government would not welcome the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg.

“It is difficult for members of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council as well as Ansarullah officials to welcome the envoys, who are unable to secure the entry of a single fuel ship into conflict-stricken areas. The UN envoy has exhibited his helplessness in other issues as well,” he pointed out.

SS