UN truce fails to hold in Yemen

A UN Yemen truce aimed at delivering desperately needed aid to millions threatened with famine failed to take hold yesterday as clashes and Saudi-led coalition air strikes persisted.

The six-day ceasefire came into effect just before midnight Friday, but clashes between Iran-backed Shiite rebels and fighters loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi hit several areas while coalition strikes targeted rebel positions.

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The United Nations hoped the truce would hold until the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on July 17, allowing sorely needed aid to reach civilians.

But with fierce fighting resuming just hours after the lull was supposed to take effect, attempts to end the violence appeared stillborn as both sides accused each other of not taking the peace efforts seriously.

The Saudi-led coalition said it "did not yet receive any request from the legitimate Yemeni government asking for a truce or cessation of military operations."

Coalition spokesman Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Assiri said the alliance was "not concerned with this truce because it does not provide a commitment from the Huthi militia".

Coalition warplanes raided Huthi positions in the central city of Taez, where clashes between the rebels and fighters loyal to Hadi continued after the truce.

Violence also raged overnight in Taez, with witnesses saying the Huthis had also bombed several districts.