Latest news with #StockholmAgreement
Saba Yemen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
UNSC extends mandate of UN mission to support Hodeida agreement in Yemen
New York – Saba: The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeida Agreement in Yemen for six months and two weeks. According to the Oman News Agency, the Council affirmed in the resolution that the extension of the mission's mandate until January 28, 2026, is a continuation of "support for the implementation of the agreement on the city of Hodeida and the ports of Hodeida, Salif, and Ras Isa, as set out in the Stockholm Agreement." Resolution 2786 also requested the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council monthly on the progress of implementation of this resolution. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Scoop
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Yemen: Security Council Extends UN Mission In Crucial Port City Amid Escalating Red Sea Strife
14 July 2025 Adopted unanimously, the resolution extending the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until 28 January 2026, underscores the Mission's critical role in maintaining fragile stability amid signs of renewed military escalation and deepening humanitarian need. The resolution – 2786 (2025) – reaffirms the Council's support for the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, including the ceasefire in the Houthi-controlled port city – and demilitarisation of its docks, where the majority of Yemen's imports and vital aid shipments pass through. The mission's future It also signals a growing debate over the mission's future, requesting the Secretary-General to submit a review by November to enhance coordination and coherence of UN operations, 'bearing in mind challenges' that have directly impeded UNMHA's capacity to deliver. ' The Security Council …expresses its intention to review the full range of options for UNMHA's mandate, including assessing the future viability and sunsetting of the Mission, and make any necessary adjustments to gain efficiencies and reduce costs or otherwise, as may be required to UN operations in Hudaydah by developments on the ground, including inter alia a durable nationwide ceasefire,' the resolution noted. UNMHA was established in 2019 to support implementation of the Stockholm Agreement between the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah (as the Houthis are formally known), which sought to prevent major conflict over the region. The mission monitors the ceasefire, facilitates redeployments and supports de-escalation through liaison mechanisms between the parties. Tensions mounting While the military situation on the ground remains tenuously stable, tensions are mounting on multiple fronts. According to a letter from the Secretary-General to the 15-member Council in June, a growing number of ceasefire violations – averaging over 100 per day between June 2024 and May 2025 – highlight the fragile state of the region. Government-aligned forces fortified positions in anticipation of a possible offensive on the city, while Houthi units increased infiltration attempts and public mobilisation, including military-style youth camps in areas they control. Deadly Red Sea passage Compounding this, Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea have intensified. On 8 July, the commercial vessel Eternity C was sunk, killing several crew members and leaving others missing. This followed the sinking of the Magic Seas vessel two days earlier. In a statement, UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg condemned the attacks, calling them violations of international maritime law and warning they risked serious environmental and geopolitical fallout. He called on Ansar Allah to cease attacks that risk escalating tensions in and around Yemen. '[He urges them] to build on the cessation of hostilities with the United States in the Red Sea and to provide durable guarantees to the region and the wider international community, ensuring the safety of all those using this critical waterway,' the statement noted. Significant operational constraints Within Hudaydah itself, UNMHA faces significant constraints. The June letter by the Secretary-General details restrictions by Houthi authorities on UN patrols to the critical Red Sea ports – Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Issa. Damage from repeated airstrikes, including by the US and Israel in response to Houthi attacks, has left key port infrastructure partially inoperable, disrupting fuel, food and medical imports. With Hudaydah responsible for 70 per cent of Yemen's commercial imports and 80 per cent of humanitarian deliveries, the stakes are high. Polio vaccination drive Meanwhile, a new round of polio vaccinations is underway in Government-controlled areas of southern Yemen, amid mounting concerns over the continued spread of the virus. From 12 to 14 July, health workers deployed across 12 governorates, aimed at curbing the outbreak of variant type 2 poliovirus. The campaign, led by Yemen's Ministry of Public Health with support from UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), came as 282 cases have been reported since 2021, with environmental surveillance confirming ongoing transmission. ' The campaign is essential to interrupt transmission and protect every child from the debilitating effects of polio,' said Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, acting WHO Representative in Yemen. UNICEF's Peter Hawkins echoed the urgency, warning of the 'imminent threat' to unvaccinated children if immunisation gaps persist. 'But, through vaccination, we can keep our children safe,' he said.
Yemen Online
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Calls to Liberate Hodeidah in Western Yemen
Hodeidah: A Postponed Battle and Renewed Hope Yemeni politician Jamal Al-Awadhi, currently based in Paris, has called on the U.S. administration to begin supporting Yemeni forces with prior experience in fighting the Houthis—forces that were on the brink of liberating the strategic coastal city .The city was handed over to the Houthis under what was called a peace agreement, signed in Stockholm in December 2018 under UN sponsorship. Al-Awadhi stressed that airstrikes alone are insufficient, noting that civilians bear the brunt of the conflict, as Houthi leaders often hide among them. He also stated that liberating Hodeidah would severely disrupt the Houthi militia, as most of the missiles threatening international maritime security are launched from the city. A Strategic Stronghold in the Yemeni Conflict Hodeidah is the lifeline of the Houthis, serving as their primary economic and logistical hub. Through the city's ports, the group secures crucial military supplies and financial resources, sustaining their war effort. In 2018, the Joint Forces, backed by the Arab Coalition, were just steps away from reclaiming Hodeidah. However, political interference, mismanagement by the Yemeni government, and the complicity of former UN envoy Martin Griffiths prevented the mission from being completed. This setback gave the Houthis a golden opportunity to regroup, fortify their positions, and manipulate the Stockholm Agreement to their advantage. Stockholm Agreement: Peace or Surrender? The Stockholm Agreement, signed under UN mediation in December 2018, became a lifeline for the Houthis. Instead of compelling their full withdrawal from Hodeidah, the deal provided them with a legal cover to maintain control. This allowed them to entrench their military presence, rearm their forces, and extend their influence. Many Yemenis consider the agreement not a peace deal but a surrender pact, which has enabled the Houthis to continue threatening Red Sea maritime security and launching terrorist attacks using missiles and drones. A Golden Opportunity to Restore Military Momentum With growing international pressure on the Houthis due to their escalated regional and global threats, and the possibility of revisiting the Stockholm Agreement, a real opportunity has emerged to complete the liberation of Hodeidah. The forces that previously advanced and nearly secured victory can be repositioned within a renewed military strategy, leveraging tactical advancements, battlefield experience, and upgraded weaponry. Liberating Hodeidah: A Strategic Turning Point Reclaiming Hodeidah would mark a pivotal moment in the conflict, delivering a crippling blow to the Houthis by: 1. Economically strangling the Houthis by cutting off their primary revenue streams from port activities. 2. Eliminating threats to maritime security in the Red Sea, a pressure point the Houthis have used to blackmail the international community. 3. Strengthening the Yemeni government militarily and politically, paving the way for further liberation operations across other regions. 4. Curtailing Iran's influence in Yemen, as Tehran relies on Hodeidah as a key gateway for smuggling weapons and military advisors. Decisive Military Action: A Necessity, Not an Option Given past experiences, any new attempt to halt military operations under the pretext of 'peace' may serve as another window of opportunity for the Houthis to reinforce their positions. Therefore, completing the liberation of Hodeidah is a critical step toward dismantling Houthi power. Without it, Yemen will remain trapped in a cycle of conflict and attrition. The next phase requires a genuine commitment from the legitimate government, along with coordinated military and security support from the United States and the United Kingdom. This must be executed within a decisive military strategy that avoids political compromises—compromises that risk repeating past failures.
