The decision to lift the siege on the port of Hodeidah, on Monday, cast a shadow over the scene in Yemen, adding more optimism that a peace agreement would soon be reached.
The head of the Southern Movement Fouad Rashid, which is loyal to the coalition, considered the arrival of the first ship to the port of Hodeidah without inspection as a practical implementation of confidence-building steps, in a way that paves the way for announcing the extension of the armistice.
Rashid expected the implementation of more steps in the coming days, including the disbursement of salaries.
And the Emirati newspaper, “Emarat Al Youm”, confirmed in a report that it had started implementing what it described as confidence-building steps between Sana’a and Riyadh, noting that the steps include lifting the blockade on sea and air ports, including opening the port of Hodeidah and Sana’a airport, in addition to opening the roads.
The newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying that the parties are already close to announcing the extension of a new truce.
The Salvation Government in Sana’a announced the arrival of the first commercial ship to the port of Hodeidah without inspection.
Although the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hussein Al-Ezzi, praised the step, he considered it insufficient in building trust.
The ship, carrying a quantity of fuel, docked in the port of Ras Issa, which remained closed during the past eight years of war and was subjected to several air raids.
The port, which contains large oil reservoirs, is linked by a pipeline to transport oil from the Marib fields, which are currently under the control of the factions loyal to the coalition.
