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| Arabia |
| Not informed of deal, coalition is 'not bound by it' |
| 2015-07-13 |
| [ARABNEWS] The spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition targeting Yemen’s Shiite rebels in airstrikes since March says the coalition is not bound by a new truce deal. "Me and him agree that you're gonna..." Brig. Gen. Ahmed Al-Assiri said the coalition is not interested in a unilateral truce, calling it “counterproductive.” He added that the coalition is not bound by it because of a lack of commitment by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. He called for UN observers on the ground to monitor for violations. The UN-declared truce is meant to last through the end of Ramadan. The World Health Organization said the truce would allow it and other groups to provide aid. The coalition said it “did not yet receive any request from the legitimate Yemeni government asking for a truce or cessation of military operations.” Coalition warplanes raided Houthi positions in the central city of Taez, where clashes between the rebels and fighters loyal to Hadi continued after the truce. Violence also raged Friday night in Taez, with witnesses saying the Houthis had also bombed several districts. In the south, coalition warplanes also hit rebels in the port city of Aden and nearby Lahj province, witnesses said. Also, there were reports that the Houthis were preparing to launch medium-range missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Observers said that the Houthi rebels had moved the missiles toward Dhamar to strike at Saudi hinterland in the south. According to a news website, Iranian experts have developed the medium-range weapons in Yemen’s Hodaidah governorate. “The move (airstrikes) was made because the Yemeni rebels believe the UN humanitarian truce won’t succeed,” the website reported. It said the Iranian Tasnim news agency reported that the Houthis received new medium-range missiles, without mentioning the number. |
| Posted by:Fred |