SANA’A (AFP/MEMO) – Twitter has suspended the Arabic-language account of the spokesperson for Yemeni armed forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree.
The account had over 300,000 followers and had been active since November 2018 and provided users with updates and statements regarding military operations of the Yemeni Army against Saudi Arabia and its coalition partner the UAE.
The account also shared information on developments on the ground against Saudi-backed mercenary forces fighting on behalf of the exiled former Yemeni government.
Saree’s English-language account is still active and earlier on Monday Saree posted a tweet in Arabic describing the move by the social media platform as being “in line with the policy of the forces of aggression” in order to “silence mouths that expose them and reveal their crimes”.
He also announced that another Arabic-language account has since been created, which already has over 12,000 followers.
In another development, UN special envoy Hans Grundberg started his first visit to Yemen’s capital Monday, following an April 2 ceasefire that Yemenis have accused the Saudi side of violating.
The Swedish diplomat is scheduled to meet Ansarullah movement officials during his first Sana’a visit since taking office in September.
“He is looking forward to engaging with Ansarullah leadership on implementing and strengthening the truce and discussing the way forward,” Grundberg’s office said in a tweet announcing his arrival.
There are reports that the two-month ceasefire declared at the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has been violated by the Saudi side.
Grundberg has urged all parties to exercise “restraint”, tweeting that he was “following very closely the latest developments in Ma’rib”.