Fighting Continues In Hodeidah Ahead Of Cease-Fire

Rebels and pro-government forces have continued to clash in Yemen's Hodeidah province, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). 

Witnesses reported gun and missile fire in the city's southern neighborhoods on Monday. A planned cease-fire will enter into effect at midnight, a Houthi official said. 

The Saudi-led coalition launched seven airstrikes and 50 artillery attacks in the city on Sunday, according to the Houthi-run Masirah television network. A Houthi spokesman said the coalition had conducted 12 airstrikes in Hodeidah on Saturday.

A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthis of aggression, saying that coalition troops were defending their positions, reported CNN. 

The rebel group has continued to attack civilians suspected of cooperating or sympathizing with the government, reported the National (Abu Dhabi). 

At least 29 fighters, including 22 Houthis, were killed on Saturday night, a pro-government military source told Agence France-Presse.

Both movements remain committed to a plan to avoid large-scale bloodshed in the vital city. 

On Dec. 13, the parties agreed to a truce during U.N.-mediated talks in Sweden, including a complete withdrawal of military assets from the city and the deployment of U.N. monitoring forces.