Weekly security briefing 1 July 2018

UN Special Envoy

Griffiths travelled to Aden on 27 June to meet with President Hadi and his cabinet, before travelling onwards to meet Houthi representatives in Oman.

As reported, the envoy told Hadi that Houthi officials had agreed to transfer management of the port over the UN. They have also reportedly agreed to accept the UN overseeing the transfer of port revenues to the Central Bank. These concessions seemingly prompted the envoy’s first public statement on the discussions over Al-Hudaydah.

Yemen's warring parties have confirmed their willingness to restart negotiations after a two-year hiatus, the U.N. special envoy for Yemen said even as fighting raged along the country's west coast over a key port city.

He said he hopes the U.N. Security Council will come up with a plan next week and present it to the Yemenis.

Hadi government

Hadi government appears to have rejected the terms of this agreement. Foreign minister Khaled Al-Yamani said in a statement on 27 June that the management and security of the port cannot be achieved without securing Al-Hudaydah city, and that this would require the full withdrawal of the Houthis not only from the city, but also from the entire governorate. He also stated that forces from the Ministry of Interior must be allowed to enter the city.

UNOCHA

UNOCHA reported on 24 June that the fighting in Al-Hudaydah continues to displace people within their districts and into neighbouring governorates. Civilians are currently still able to move around Al-Hudaydah city, but shops are largely closed and the availability of basic foodstuffs and good has become scarce, leading to price increases. Electricity is reportedly unavailable in most parts of the city and water shortages have been reported due to the damage caused to pipelines by the digging up of roads.

Al-Hudaydah

• Hostilities in Al-Hudaydah city slowed from 22 June as the sides entered an informal ceasefire while the UN special envoy conducted negotiations over a political settlement for the port city. But, airstrikes, mortar shelling, and sniper fire were still reported in areas around the airport compound and near the main bypass roads to the south-east and south-west, including reports of civilian casualties. Further south, daily clashes continued in areas along the coastal road. Anti-Houthi forces attempted to push inland in the Al-Fazah area in Al-Tuhayat and Al-Jah in Bayt Al-Faqiah, while pro-Houthi fighters carried out hit-and-run attacks, trying to cut the supply line from Al-Khawkhah to Al-Hudaydah city.

Al-Hudaydah

Airstrikes targeted a bus full of civilains while

they were displaced from Al-Garahi to Zabid

, As reported 9 killed and 11 injured.

-On 27-June, A Fall of an artillery shelling in Al-Rubsah district, as reported 5 civilians killed and 4 injured

Al-Hudaydah

Blockade most of the roads by the cement barriers,

or by the digging up the roads, or by dust barriers.

Sada'a

Anti-Houthi forces claimed to make gains in the west of Sa’ada. They reportedly captured the road between the Al-Malalheedh and Marran areas and high ground in the Al-Mashabbeh area in Al-Dhaher after clashes with pro-Houthi fighters. The border areas of the district also saw artillery fire and coalition airstrikes throughout the week. In the rest of the governorate, cross-border shelling was also reported in other western districts, including Razih and Monabbih, while airstrikes hit most other districts. As usual, there were reports of shelling and airstrikes on civilian locations , such as houses and farms, as reported 5 civilians killed and 6 injured.

Amran

Amran city was hit by a wave of airstrikes on 25 June. The strikes hit the security administration building, 9th Mechanised Infantry Brigade camp, telecommunications offices, and a residential neighbourhood, killing and injuring at least 24 civilians, mostly women and children, including eight people from the same family.

Sana'a

There was a slight uptick in armed clashes in Nihm, in the north-east of Sana’a governorate. Coalition-backed forces claimed to make some minor gains, including capturing the Wadi Mahli area and the Saleh Ali and Al-Robah hills . In the rest of the governorate, the only incident was an airstrike on a house in Bilad Al-Rus on 26 June. There were no incidents in Sana’a city.