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Q: When did Yemen’s warring parties extend the UN-brokered truce?
A: Iran-backed
Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition accepted a U.N.-brokered
two-month truce led by special envoy Hans Grundberg; it came into effect
on April 2 until June 2, 2022. The truce is extendable for 60 days with
the consent of both parties. The extension came into effect on June 2,
2022 once the previous term expired.
Q: What are the basic terms of the truce?
A:
The truce brought a ceasing of aerial, ground, and maritime military
offensive operations, both cross-border and within Yemen from the
warring parties and provided relief for the Yemeni people after seven
years of war.
Q: Who are the parties involved?
A: The Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition are the main players in this conflict.
The
Houthi movement is an armed Islamist, predominately Shia, political
movement that emerged from Northern Yemen and is primarily led by
members of the Houthi tribe. The Houthis are largely backed by the
Islamic government in Iran.
The
Saudi-led coalition’s primary members are Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates. However, they are also supported by seven other Arab
countries, namely: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, and
Morocco. The coalition has utilized intelligence and logistic support
from the United States.
Q: Why are the parties in conflict?
A: Following
unrest that beset Yemen during the Arab Spring and the ousting of
long-term President Ali Abdullah Sallah, in 2014, the Houthis rose up
against Interim President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, took the capital of Sanaa, and placed
Hadi under house-arrest. In 2015, Saudi Arabia, with the aim of
restoring Hadi’s power, formed the coalition and entered the war in
Yemen with Iran providing support to the Houthis.
In
religious sectarian terms, the conflict can be viewed through the
Sunni-Shia lense with Iran backing the Shia group and Saudi Arabia,
alongside other Gulf countries, aiming to reinstate the Sunni
government.
Q: What are the terms of the truce extension?
A:
The extension will continue the ceasing of aerial, ground, and maritime
military offensive operations. The Houthi-controlled airport in Yemen’s
capital, Sanaa, will allow two commercial flights to operate a week to
Jordan and Egypt. The Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida will allow the
delivery of 18 fuel vessels; roads to and from Taiz and other
governorates will be open. However, whether all of these parts of the
truce will be effectively implemented has raised doubts as the past two
months witnessed events and actions in violation with the terms.
Q: What role is the United States playing?
A: In
February 2021, Joe Biden announced his intention to end U.S. support
for the Saudi coalition, reflecting a transition in U.S. involvement in
and perception of the conflict.
Since
the U.S. has been pushing for a peace deal, the extension of the truce
can be seen as an effort by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to maintain
positive relations with the United States. Notably, on June 2, 2022,
Saudi Arabia and UAE also agreed to increase their oil production, a
move that aims to ease the spike in U.S. oil prices and another example
of collaborative efforts between the Gulf and the United States.
Q: What are the limitations of the truce and how well is it enforced?
A:
The truce does not have an established independent monitoring system in
place and is not monitored by the U.N. The responsibility to uphold the
terms of the truce falls on the two warring parties. However, there
have been some hostile military activities, specifically around the
energy-rich city of Marib, during the initial two-month truce period.
The Saudi-led coalition places blame on the rebel group, though the
aggressor has not been officially confirmed.
Q: What are the immediate benefits of the truce?
A:
The implementation of the truce has had a direct impact on the
reduction of civilian casualties and offensive military operations. By
virtue of the roads to and from cities in Yemen opening, the delivery of
humanitarian aid will be carried out with more ease, while the delivery
of fuel will fulfill a portion of Yemen's energy requirements.
Q: What does the truce convey about the future of the conflict?
A:
The truce reflects a shift in the trajectory of the war in Yemen and
opens the door to attaining a more permanent peace deal. It allows the
two parties to show their commitments to a peace deal and constructive
negotiations.
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