The Yemeni army backed by the Saudi-led coalition have dealt a strong blow to Houthi militias and pro-Saleh troops stationed in the southern parts of the country in skirmishes over the weekend. A Yemeni military source said the Saudi-supported Yemeni army’s advance set back the rebels and sent the remaining militias fleeing from the battlefield.

The source told Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the Yemeni army also foiled a surprise attack launched by Houthi militias in Al Joaf province in an attempt to weaken the grip of the army in Khabb and Shaaf directorate in the northern parts of the province.  SPA quoted a military source saying the militias were forced to retreat.

However, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the humanitarian situation in Yemen is a "catastrophe" and cholera cases there could reach a million by the end of the year. Alexandre Faith, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen, said the warring sides were using disproportionate force, causing "very excessive" civilian casualties. He called on them to allow Sanaa airport to open to commercial flights for aid supplies.

Speaking in Geneva, Mr Faite said there had been 750,000 suspected cases of cholera to date, with 2,119 deaths. "We could be to one million (cases) by the end of the year," he added. In his speech before the Human Rights Council, Fahd bin Obaidullah Al Mutairi, Head of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Department at the Saudi delegation to the United Nations, expressed his deep regret over the suffering and loss of innocent lives suffered by the Yemeni people.

He said the coalition was taking important steps to protect civilians during its military operations, whose purpose was to end suffering, minimise humanitarian damage and speed up relief efforts. He said Saudi Arabia welcomed the role played by the Yemeni National Committee for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations, and urged the Joint Incidents Assessment Team to investigate all incidents that allegedly cause damage to civilian structures so that such errors can be avoided in future.

Mr Al Mutairi said the aim of the coalition's operations is to restore the legitimate, internationally-recognised government in Yemen. According to SPA, he confirmed that the Houthi militias and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh had violated international humanitarian law with impunity by firing ballistic rockets at Saudi Arabia and endangering international shipping routes. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 at the request of its legitimate government when armed rebels seized state institutions.

On the other hand, UN special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed criticized Houthis for launching ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia, and condemned the recent insurgent threats to expand the firing of missiles towards Gulf countries, saying such behaviors were considered an “extremely dangerous escalation.”

Speaking on Yemen’s situation at the UN Security Council, the envoy announced his plan to revive talks between the Yemeni warring parties by suggesting a comprehensive initiative for a solution in the war-torn country.

“I am currently working on a comprehensive plan that includes humanitarian initiatives to rebuild trust as well as bringing the parties back to the negotiations table,” he said.

Following his statement at the Security Council, Ould Cheikh told Asharq Al-Awsat that he plans to present his initiative to the concerned parties during a meeting that might be held soon in Geneva.

He added that his plan also involves enhancing the authorities of the port city of Hodeida and to pay the salaries of all employees across Yemen.

The envoy called on member states and the international community to offer their assistance in this regard.

“We hope this commitment will translate into action and deepen their engagement with me on the basis of these initiatives in order to reach a peaceful political solution,” he said, adding that the conflict in Yemen is creating a desperate situation in every facet of daily life.

Ould Cheikh urged the Security Council to use all of its political and economic power to exert pressure on all parties to commit to a peace pact.

The envoy spoke about an air strike ona residential suburb in Sana’a on 25 August, which had claimed the lives of 14 civilians and injured 16 others, while shelling from Houthi-controlled zones of residential areas in Taiz city on September 15 and 18 had killed and injured tens of civilians.

For his part, French ambassador to the United Nations Francois Delattre, who is president of the Security Council for October, told reporters following the session that Council members reiterated their support for a political solution as the only way to end the conflict in Yemen and their call on all parties to immediately agree on the modalities for a durable cessation of hostilities.