Yemen: Ansarullah start to redeploy in Hudaydah amid Saudi raids

Yemen's Ansarullah defenders say they have started to redeploy from the port of the Red Sea city of Hudaydah as part of a UN-sponsored peace agreement signed in Sweden earlier this month.

A UN source confirmed the announcement on Saturday which saw Saudi airplanes carry out new airstrikes despite the presence of UN observers who arrived in Hudaydah this week.

"Our forces have started to redeploy since last night from Hudaydah port, as agreed in Sweden," an Ansarullah military spokesman told Yemen's al-Masirah TV. 

The Ansarullah have agreed to let international monitors to be deployed in the strategic city. Under the deal, a Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) including both warring sides will oversee implementation.

The redeployment is intended to be the first step in the implementation of the agreement, to be followed by both sides pulling their forces out of three ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Rass Issa. 

The parties are due to present detailed plans for a full redeployment to head of the UN advance team charged with monitoring the ceasefire Patrick Cammaert at the next RCC meeting on Jan. 1, the United Nations said.

It is still unclear how far they will withdraw and who will control the three ports or if the two sides will share control with UN monitors positioned between the two fronts.

The UN monitors will not be uniformed or armed but will provide support for the management of and inspections at the ports and strengthen the UN presence in Hudaydah.

The agreement, the first significant breakthrough in peace efforts in five years, is part of confidence-building measures intended to pave the way for a wider truce and a framework forpolitical negotiations.

On Saturday, Saudi air raids hit an area near Qabiah Village in Bayt al-Faqih District on Friday.

The attacks came as UN observers met with representatives of Yemen’s former government and the Ansarullah movement, which defends the country against the invaders.

SS