Yemen peace talks cancelled after government northern offensives

A Houthi rebel delegation has walked out of peace talks with representatives of the internationally recognised Yemeni government after a massive offensive from Saudi-backed forces in northern Yemen.

Houthi officials demands the UN to condemn breaches of a ceasefire by fighters loyal to Yemen President Abd Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi. Government officials have also blamed Houthis for ignoring the truce.

A new front against Yemen's rebels has opened up in the north of the country, after hundreds of pro-government troops stormed over the border from Saudi Arabia and seized two rebel-held towns.

Backed by Gulf war planes, Saudi-trained troops entered the country from the north, taking control of Harad town just 15 kilometres inside Yemen on Thursday.

On Friday, they also captured the capital of northern Jawf province, tribal sources told AFP.

Troops loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi also seized Hazm after successes in Marib city.

Yemeni rebels responded by firing two ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia, one which was intercepted.
 
An official said that 1,000 soldiers loyal to President Abd Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi were involved in the operation in Harad, and dozens troops allied with the Houthi rebels had been killed.

The force is expected to advance on the nearby Red Sea port of Midi, which has been in rebel hands since 2010.

The offensive comes during a shaky ceasefire with both parties launching rocket and ground attacks as rival politicians hold peace talks in Switzerland.

Rebel rocket attacks on Saudi Arabia have killed more than 80 people since March, when Gulf forces launch aerial and then ground attacks on the Houthis and army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

This week, a prisoner exchange involving hundreds of rival captured fighters was implemented, giving hope that a peace deal might be in the making.

Clashes frequently take place on the border with Saudi Arabia, which is close to the Houthi rebels' tribal heartlands, around Saada city.

They captured the Yemeni capital Sanaa in September 2014, forcing President Hadi and his government to flee, first to the south of the country until a Houthi offensive forced him to move overseas.

Hadi is now back and taking control of his government from their local headquarters in Aden, while pro-Hadi forces backed by Gulf troops and war planes advance northwards towards Sanaa.

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