The UN Security Council on Thursday (April 18th) urged Yemen's government and the Iran-backed Houthi (Ansarallah) militia to pull back their forces from the key city of al-Hodeidah "as soon as possible" in line with a ceasefire deal reached four months ago.
The council warned in a unanimous statement that it will "monitor the parties' compliance with the redeployment plans" as it awaits a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on whether the sides are upholding commitments, AFP reported.
The redeployment of forces was agreed in December under a ceasefire deal reached in Sweden that offered the best hope in years of moving toward an end to the war that has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.
The council expressed "grave concern" that four months on, the agreements have not been implemented, but there was no threat of sanctions against those who are blocking the peace effort.
UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the council on Monday that the government and the Houthis had agreed to the operational details of the first long-delayed pullback of forces from al-Hodeidah.
