[JURIST] Forces led by Saudi Arabia ordered [AP report] civilians in northern Yemen to evacuate the area by Friday afternoon, declaring that the entire region would be deemed a military target, but also announced plans for a ceasefire next week. The coalition dropped leaflets [CNN report] in the area warning they would strike anything in the Saada province after 7pm on Friday. The order came after Houthis fired rockets over the Saudi border, leaving at least 3 Saudis dead. Nine strikes were reported in Saada on Friday evening, including a complex under rebel control which is believed to store weapons. However, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir [official profile] announced that a five-day ceasefire would begin Tuesday at 11pm, but only if the Houthis abide by the ceasefire. A coalition of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, began an air campaign against Houthi and Saleh forces on March 26, hoping to restore Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi [Al Jazeera profile] to office.

The situation in Yemen has sparked significant international concern. Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] said earlier this month that it has received credible evidence indicating that the Saudi-led coalition used illegal cluster munitions [JURIST report] supplied by the US in airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen. Last month HRW condemned [JURIST report] the targeting of the Ibn Khaldun Hospital in Yemen. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein urged Yemeni combatants last month to report attacks resulting in civilian casualties [JURIST report] so that they could be investigated and international human rights law can be upheld. Also in April the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee [advocacy websites] filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] on behalf of US citizens still in Yemen against the US State Department and the Department of Defense for allegedly failing to launch an evacuation plan. The same week, in a unanimous vote, Pakistani lawmakers passed a resolution [JURIST report] to stay out of the conflict in Yemen, despite pleas from Saudi Arabia for aid in the form of warships, aircraft and ground troops. UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Chaloka Beyani urged [JURIST report] the international community to prepare itself for the “massive displacement and humanitarian crisis” that could come as a result of civilians fleeing the fighting in Yemen, stating that they must prepare for a worst case scenario.