ADEN, Yemen, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Despite the ongoing talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen's capital Sanaa to discuss a permanent ceasefire, sporadic fightings erupted in the country's oil-rich province of Marib on Tuesday.
Over the past few hours, there have been sporadic clashes and heavy artillery shellings between government forces and the Houthi militia along the Alkasarah and Raghwan frontlines in northwest of Marib, raising concerns about the outlook of the peace process, a local government official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The ongoing talks between the Houthi militia and Saudi Arabia, the primary backer of Yemen's internationally recognized government, signaled a potential turning point in the long-standing conflict that has left the country devastated.
A new hope for reaching a peaceful resolution to the conflict was raised by the Saudi-Houthi talks, which focused on renewing the ceasefire, reopening Sanaa airport, and lifting restrictions on Yemen's Red Sea port to facilitate humanitarian aid for millions of Yemenis facing food insecurity and inadequate healthcare.
However, the recent renewed clashes in Marib and other Yemeni regions highlight the challenges in implementing a lasting ceasefire and addressing the deep-rooted issues that have fueled the civil war in Yemen.
The situation in Marib, a strategic city in northern Yemen, is particularly tense, as it has been the scene of heavy fightings between the government forces and the Houthis in recent months.
Despite the setbacks in Marib, the recent talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia still represent a glimmer of hope for ending the protracted military conflict.
Earlier in the day, the Yemeni government announced it is ready for the exchange of prisoners with the Houthis, set to begin on Thursday.
The process will be carried out in three phases over three days, and the first exchange will involve 72 prisoners, according to Majed Fadael, a member of the government negotiating delegation.
The number of peace initiatives has increased, particularly after Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations in rapprochement talks hosted by China in early March.
Over the weekend, Saudi and Omani delegations held talks with the Iran-backed Houthi group in Sanaa to restore peace in the war-torn country, which was praised by the United Nations as "a welcome step towards the de-escalation of tensions."
Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war after the Houthi militia took control of several northern cities and ousted the Saudi-backed Yemeni government from Sanaa in 2014. The conflict has resulted in a staggering number of casualties and pushed Yemen to the brink of a humanitarian crisis, including widespread famine. ■
