Saudi-led coalition strikes Yemeni capital as Houthi rebels call for a truce and permanent ceasefire

Middle East, News March 28, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The Saudi-led military coalition carried out airstrikes in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on March 27. The airstrike came in response to the wave of drone strikes and missile attacks on several Saudi targets by the Houthi rebels.

Saudi media outlets claimed that Houthi rebels have called for a truce and a permanent ceasefire. Houthi political leader Mahdi al-Mashat appeared in a Television interview to announce the truce and ceasefire. He announced for “suspension of missile and drone strikes and all military actions for a period of three days.”

Mahdi also stated that “We are ready to turn this declaration into a final and permanent commitment in the event that Saudi Arabia commits to ending the siege and stopping its raids on Yemen once and for all.” However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or the Saudi-led coalition has not yet responded to the offer of a truce and ceasefire.

On March 26, Yemeni Houthis launched a series of simultaneous attacks on several targets in Saudi Arabia including Saudi state own owned energy giant Aramco petroleum’s distribution station in Jeddah. The attack led to a huge fire in two storage tanks however no casualties were reported during the attack.

The attack came at a time when the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix race was taking place on the other side of the city. Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali told drivers and team bosses that the Grand Prix would go ahead as planned.

Other ballistic missile attacks were carried out at Ras Tanura and Rabigh refineries in Riyadh. Military spokesperson of Houthi rebels Yahya Sarae accepted the responsibility for the attacks.

*^{Smoke billows from a fire at Saudi Aramco’s petroleum storage facility in Jeddah after the Houthi attack. (Image Credit: Stringer/Reuters)}*

Saudi Ministry of Energy issued a statement strongly condemning the attacks by calling it an ‘effort to sabotage the global oil supply’. The ministry also called out Iran for its support of the Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia by providing them with arms, drones, and missiles. Tehran denied its involvement in the recent attacks as well as the accusations of arming the Houthi rebels.

The sudden escalation between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition comes at a time when United Nations special envoy is trying to secure a temporary truce between the two sides ahead of the Muslim’s holy month of Ramadan that starts in April.

The international community also condemned the attacks on Saudi targets by the Houthi rebels. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the attacks on close U.S. ally Saudi Arabia. He stated that the United States would continue to work with Riyadh to strengthen its defenses while working for a durable resolution to the conflict in Yemen.