Saudi Arabia Declares Temporary Ceasefire in Yemen

By: Mario Benuzzi

A man walks through Sana’a, Yemen. Photo by Carl Waldmeier

New York — The Saudi Arabia-led coalition has officially declared a two-week cessation of hostilities in Yemen in order to prepare for the Coronavirus. The ceasefire commenced on April 9th.

Just last week, the coalition bombed Yemeni capital Sana’a, killing nearly a hundred horses and their trainers in a strike on the city’s military college. The attack saw widespread condemnation. 

The ceasefire declaration was a unilateral announcement. There is no confirmation whether the Houthi rebels will cooperate. Although atrocities have been committed by both sides, significantly more casualties have been afflicted by the Saudi-coalition.

The ceasefire comes amid several recent peace deals in reaction to the pandemic, potentially in connection to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s repeated call for a global ceasefire of all conflict. Cameroonian separatist groups announced their ceasefire just last week. Yemen has confirmed its first case of the virus.