Splendor Sapphire tanker released after 88 days, makes it to Hudaydah
Splendor Sapphire docks at Al-Hudaydah port after it had been held by the Saudi-led coalition for 88 days.
-
Al-Hudaydah port, Yemen (AFP)
The Splendor Sapphire oil tanker has docked in Al-Hudaydah port after 88 days of being held by the Saudi-led coalition, the Yemen Oil and Gas Corporation said Sunday, revealing that the coalition still had three tankers.
Yemen Oil and Gas Corporation spokesperson Issam Yahya Al-Mutawakkil made the announcement, saying, "The Splendor Sapphire tanker has arrived in Al-Hudayda port after it was held for 88 days, and there are still three tankers in captivity."
Al-Mutawakkil also called on the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to expedite the implementation of the announced armistice and allow the rest of the ships to Al-Hudaydah port to mitigate the fuel crisis.
The Yemen Oil and Gas Corporation had said two weeks ago that "the coalition of aggression led by the United States seized the Sea Adore tanker even though it had been searched and granted UN permits to enter the Al-Hudaydah port."
"With the seizure of the emergency gasoline ship (Sea Adore), the number of seized ships rose to 3 tankers, including two gasoline ships," the Yemeni firm said.
Earlier today, the Saudi-led coalition violated the ceasefire, which stipulated that 18 tankers must be released for the Al-Hudaydah port, in addition to the cessation of all offensive military operations.
The truce between the Saudi-led coalition and the Sanaa government went into effect at 7 pm local time on Saturday and was meant to suspend all land, air, and maritime offensive military operations, according to the UN's Yemen Envoy Hans Grundberg.
