A/HRC/42/17 Context and situational update (July 2018 – June 2019) IV. 14. In the past year, the conflict in Yemen continued unabated, including on new fronts (see A/HRC/39/43).4 While international attention concentrated on the battle for AlHudaydah, followed by ceasefire discussions, the parties shifted their focus and resources to frontlines in Ta’izz, Hajjah, Sa’dah, and Al-Dhale’e. Civilians continued to be killed and injured by the fighting and to suffer violations of their most basic human rights. With the persistence of the armed conflict and failure of the parties to act in the best interests of the population, Yemen remained the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. 15. From May 2018, Yemeni armed forces and groups backed by the United Arab Emirates began to mobilize for an offensive, which officially began on 13 June, as they moved towards Al-Hudaydah city amid continued warnings from the United Nations and others of the potentially disastrous humanitarian implications. In mid-July, Yemeni armed forces in the north, with coalition air support, advanced into two districts in Hajjah Governorate, cutting off Houthi supply lines to Hajjah and Sa’dah governorates. Clashes broke out along the frontlines in Hajjah and Sa’dah as parties continued to fight for control of the strategically important parts of the governorates. Meanwhile, forces backed by the United Arab Emirates aligned with the Southern Transitional Council continued to solidify their control in Aden and other southern governorates, engaging in sporadic clashes with forces loyal to the Government, thereby eroding government authority. 16. In early November, fighting around Al-Hudaydah city intensified before Yemeni armed forces and affiliated armed groups halted their offensive, on 13 November. One month later, under the auspices of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, the parties reached an agreement, referred to as the Stockholm Agreement, for a ceasefire in AlHudaydah city, plans for the handover of the ports of Al-Hudaydah, Salif and Ras ‘Issa, a mechanism for activating the exchange of prisoners and a statement of understanding on Ta’izz. Implementation of the Stockholm Agreement progressed slowly while, until May 2019, the de facto authorities blocked access to grain stored at the Red Sea Mills (enough to feed 3.7 million people for a month). Parties have also obstructed access to a 1.1 million barrel oil storage facility in the sea at Ras ‘Issa port, which urgently requires maintenance to avoid a leak, which could have a catastrophic environmental impact on the Red Sea. 17. January 2019 marked the end of a truce between the Houthis and the tribes of Hajour and, inside that part of Hajjah Governorate, the beginning of military operations, which ended with the takeover of Hajour by the Houthis on 8 March. The region, including Mount Kushar and Al-‘Abbaysa, is considered to be strategically important, given that it links several governorates. In early May, Houthi fighters started advancing south, capturing mountains and villages in Al-Dhale’e and Al-Bayda governorates after heavy fighting with Yemeni armed forces and affiliated armed groups. 18. On 14 May, the Houthis claimed responsibility for drone attacks striking oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, which led to an intensification of the coalition air campaign and subsequent missile attacks claimed by the Houthis, including some that reportedly killed and injured civilians at Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia. 19. On 13 April, the Yemeni parliament convened for the first time since 2015, meeting in Seiyoun, Hadramaut Governorate. The de facto authorities subsequently threatened to strip around 100 parliamentarians living abroad of their immunity and to bring judicial proceedings against them for treason. Also in April, two separate political groupings, made up of individuals and small political parties, were formed in the south in support of the Government of Yemen. In early May, the part of the General People’s Congress based in Sana’a met and elected Ahmed Ali Saleh, the former head of the Republican Guard and son of former President Ali Abdallah Saleh, as second vice-president of the party, while he continued to live in the United Arab Emirates. 20. The United States of America continued to conduct military operations against AlQaida in the Arabian Peninsula in support of the Government of Yemen, including through 4 4 See also A/HRC/42/CRP.1.