The Iran-backed Houthi militias have been trying to lure army forces deployed to the outskirts of the coastal city of Hodeidah into armed confrontation.
Analysts said the militias are plotting to break the UN-brokered Stockholm agreement, which was signed last December.
According to the deal, signed by both the Houthi and legitimate government, militias must redeploy from Hodeidah and its three ports.
Militants on Sunday, however, targeted army positions east of the city based at the “May 22” roundabout. Light arms and shells, which damaged many houses, were fired by Houthis for about five hours nonstop.
The attack took place a day before a planned visit by the head of the UN Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC), Lieutenant-General Michael Lollesgaard.
“Houthis have continued to violate the deal and target the army in particular. During late night hours, militias attacked army posts and shelled populated residential areas…repeated attacks are being documented and will be reported to the international community,” army spokesman Brig. Abdo Majli told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The Yemeni army, according to Majli, reserves the right to respond to Houthi attacks both targeting its units and threatening the security of neighboring countries.
Recent attacks are clear defiance of the host of agreements and commitments Houthis made in the Swedish capital, Majli noted while lamenting the Iran-backed insurgency’s persistence on flouting the deal.
Locals in southern Hodeidah reported heavy clashes erupting on Sunday and which swept through residential and public areas. Houthis, according to reports, fired rockets and assault rifles from within neighborhoods to target positions held by the Giants Brigade.
“Militias are acting contrary to all international regulations and in violation of the terms of the Sweden agreement. They are striving with all their might to thwart the peace process, which the legitimate government has made many concessions to protect in the interest of all Yemenis,” Hodeidah Governor Al-Hassan Taher said.
