Saudi-led Arab Coalition monitor groups reported over 43 incidents in which Iran–backed Houthi militiamen violated Yemen ceasefire terms, which was put into effect as of midnight Oct.18.
Most transgressions were registered near borderline areas shared with Saudi Arabia. Houthi militants fired missiles, projectiles and arms fire against the Jizan and Najraan near-border Saudi cities. Sniper activity was also reported.
A number of civilians in the southern Saudi Arabian province of Jizan have been injured by missiles fired from Yemen, the Saudi civil defense unit reported.
“The violations happened along on the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and specifically in the regions of Najran and Jazan,” a civil defense official said.
“A variety of weapons were fired, including rockets and projectiles,” he added.
Responses to registered violations was according to basic laws of engagement, coalition forces said. The Saudi-led coalition added that all transgressions will be confronted whilst upholding the ceasefire conceded terms on air and naval ban.
Self-restraint will be employed against all insurgency violations, coalition forces added.
Houthi and insurgency militias, composed of Iran-backed hardliners and fighters supporting ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, were held responsible for the delay on humanitarian aid delivery into Yemen.
Saudi-led Arab Coalition reiterated its commitment to the Yemen ceasefire, despite the insurgency’s violations.
A 72-hour ceasefire in Yemen started on Wednesday night. The U.N. envoy for Yemen had announced the truce on Monday after he confirmed receiving commitments from all of the country’s warring factions.
U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said the cessation of hostilities would begin at 2359 local time (2059 GMT) on Wednesday and could be renewed after the initial three-day period, the United Nations said in statement.
The Iranian-aligned Houthis and their allies, forces loyal to Saleh, hold most of Yemen’s northern half, while forces loyal to Yemen’s legitimately installed authority share control of the rest of the country with local tribes.
More so, Iran has admittedly stepped up weapons transfers to the Houthis, fighting in Yemen, U.S., Western and Iranian officials told Reuters. Such a development threatens prolonging and intensifying the 19-month-old war.
The increased pace of transfers in recent months, which officials said include missiles and small arms, could exacerbate a security headache for the United States, which last week struck Houthi targets with cruise missiles in retaliation for failed missile attacks on a U.S. Navy destroyer.