U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the U.N. expected to have two flights to Yemen on Monday, but no flight clearances were granted. “We are in touch with our counterparts and we’re trying to see whether we can get our normal access restored, and we’re hopeful that we will be able to continue our normal operations,” he said. Since the coalition has said the closings are temporary, Haq said that the U.N. expects “our flights as well as those of others to resume” and hopes “it will not take too long.” The U.N. called “for restraint on all sides” and urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure as required by international humanitarian law. 9:10 p.m. A U.N. agency has suspended clearances for ships heading to Yemen and has urged all ships docking in the country’s Red Sea ports to leave immediately. That’s according to an email obtained by The Associated Press on Monday from the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen, in Djibouti. The note also says all further clearances are being “temporarily suspended until further notice.” Meanwhile, the rebel-run SABA news agency says top Houthi commanders and militiamen have inspected new naval missiles that have allegedly been manufactured locally. The report says Saleh al-Sammad, head of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council, visited the port city of Hodieda, a major life line to northern Yemen, where the Houthis are in control. The Saudi-led coalition, at war with Houthis, accuses the rebels of using the port to smuggle Iranian weapons. Al-Sammad is on a Saudi bounty list, along with more than 35 other wanted Houthi officials. Read more… http://ift.tt/2AokXMz
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