A source in the Military Committee in the Yemeni province of Taiz told Al Mayadeen that the 50-60 road is still closed by the mercenaries of the [Saudi-led] aggression. 

"We have removed all the dirt barriers from the 50-60 line and established full security, but the mercenaries of the aggression are still preventing passage," the source added, noting that "civilian buses tried to enter through the road to Taiz, but the militias of the other side prevented them and opened fire."

The source also stated that yesterday, the work team tasked with opening the road came under fire by the aggression militias while they were completing their task.

"The mercenaries fired bullets and shells at the media crews that accompanied the work teams during the opening of the road yesterday afternoon," the source revealed. 

"We hold the mercenaries of aggression fully responsible for the continued closure of the road," the source stated, stressing that the behavior of the mercenaries reveals that they have no intention of opening the road, calling for condemning "the practices of the mercenaries of aggression that lead to the continuation and exacerbation of suffering."

Addressing the people of Taiz, the source said, "The National Military Committee confirms its keenness to alleviate their suffering, despite the intransigence of the other side."

On July 9, the governor of Taiz in the Sanaa government, Salah Bajash, on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, announced the opening of the 50-60 road, starting on Saturday morning, unilaterally, in compliance with the decision of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen.

Earlier, the head of the military committee of the Sanaa government, Major General Yahya Al-Razami, "regretted the behavior of the delegation of the other side to obstruct the course of the consultations sponsored by the United Nations," explaining that the government is determined "to open the roads mentioned in our national initiative unilaterally as soon as we return." To the capital, Sanaa, from Amman.

Yemeni Council: Repudiation of armistice impedes its renewal

The Yemeni Supreme Political Council had stated on July 6 that "the aggression's failure to implement the terms of the armistice is a negative indicator that does not encourage any upcoming negotiations to discuss its renewal."

"The opening of the Al-Hawban route necessitates the evacuation of the city of Taiz from the armed militias, which is something that the mercenaries evade," the Council stressed.

“We have no longer any explanation for all these complications made by the coalition-backed side party other than that they are not serious in alleviating the suffering of the people of Taiz, especially after the initiative we have put forward,” he said.

“The insistence of the coalition-backed delegation on a particular road and its disregard for other roads, which are a clear and logical solution to facilitate the passage of citizens and vehicles in Taiz as a first step,” the top Yemeni figure added.

It is worth noting that discussions resumed on 5 June in Amman, Jordan, with the delegations of both parties to reach an agreement to open roads in Taiz and other governorates as per the terms of the truce agreement.

The Special Envoy Hans Grundberg shared a revised proposal on the phased re-opening of roads, including the implementation of the mechanism and guarantees for the safety of civilian travelers, based on the discussions with both sides.

A look back 

The armistice between the Saudi coalition and the Sanaa government came into force on April 2. UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg announced that "under this armistice, all offensive military operations, by land, air, and sea, shall cease."

Grundberg explained that "the terms of the armistice agreement include facilitating the entry of 18 ships carrying fuel to the ports of Al-Hudaydah, and allowing two flights to and from Sanaa airport, every week."

Al Mayadeen counted 13,859 violations of the armistice in Yemen committed by the Saudi coalition.

About 3,947 violations were committed by the forces affiliated with the Saudi coalition during the second month of the truce that ended on June 2nd, and 5,395 violations during the first month of the truce itself, which included dozens of air raids with reconnaissance aircraft of the Saudi coalition on army and committee sites as well as civilian homes in a number of Yemeni governorates and border fronts.