Government delegation in Taiz road opening consultations: We await the arrival of citizens through the roads that the Houthis announced to be opened
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom
The head of the Yemeni government’s committee to negotiate the opening of Taiz roads, Abdul Karim Shaiban, confirmed on Friday that the roads from the side of the local authorities in the city of Taiz have been open for months, calling on the Houthis to remove the mines from the roads they announced to be opened today.
Shaiban said in press statements from the last point controlled by government forces towards Al-Qasr roundabout in Taiz, “The roads from our side are open and we are waiting for the arrival of citizens tomorrow (Saturday) through the roads that the Houthis announced to be opened today.”
He added, “We will work on coordinating to put military points to secure the crossing and we hold the Houthis responsible for the safety of the citizens and they must remove the mines.”
Earlier, the Houthi armed group announced the opening of two main roads in the city of Taiz, which they have besieged for nine years.
The armed group said that “it has opened the main road today, Friday, ‘Al-Hoban – Qasr al-Shaab – Al-Kamp’, and allocated it for travelers and light vehicles.”
It also announced the opening of “Al-Sitteen – Al-Khamsin – Madinat Al-Noor – Bir Basha” road and allocated it for medium and heavy transport trucks.
However, eyewitnesses reported that the tractors and trucks left the eastern Taiz exit after the Houthis finished filming the road opening announcement.
They pointed out that “the barricades are still at Ibn Sina Hospital and at Al-Qasr roundabout east of Taiz as they are without being lifted, and no mine clearance operations have been observed.”
It is noteworthy that the Houthis’ move came months after the Yemeni government announced the opening of all main roads closed on its side in a number of provinces in the country, including Marib and Taiz.
