Representatives of the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen’s Hodeidah obstructed on Tuesday a meeting with the UN Redeployment Coordination Committee, chaired by Retired Dutch General Patrick Cammaert.
They said that they refused to attend the meeting because it was being held in a location that lies under control of the legitimate government, said government sources in Hodeidah.
The Houthis described Cammaert as “weak” as they continue to refuse to implement the Sweden ceasefire agreement that was reached with the government in December.
In a press conference in Sanaa, Houthi spokesman Yehya Saree attacked the Dutch general, hinting that the deal could be terminated and direct confrontation with government forces could resume.
According to the government sources, Cammaert has been trying to draft an integrated and detailed plan to implement the Sweden agreement since his arrival in Hodeidah on December 24. The Houthis were given 21 days to implement the agreement and withdraw from Hodeidah, but the deadline has since passed without its implementation due to Houthi intransigence.
Political activist and leading members of the General People’s Congress, Kamel al-Khoudani, called for military action after the Houthi no-show at the meeting with Cammaert and the Redeployment Coordination Committee.
“You are dealing with a gang that has no covenant or charter,” he said, adding that the only dialogue and language that Houthis understand is that of bullets.
United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said that developments in Hodeidah reveal that the Houthis have no intention of respecting humanitarian and political commitments reached in Sweden.
In a series of tweets on Twitter, he asserted that the Saudi-led Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen is in a “very good political position” and continues to monitor Houthi attempts to manipulate their commitments.
The militias are repeating their attempts aimed at obstructing the Swedish agreement, just as they did in Kuwait and Geneva, he charged, adding that the Houthi aggression against Yemen and its people is being exposed to international public opinion.
Gargash stressed that the full implementation of the Sweden truce is a priority, saying that new conditions will not favor the Houthis this time. The fulfillment of the deal is necessary to proceed forwards towards the next phase of the political process.
