Yemen agrees to five-day truce

Yemen’s dominant Houthi group yesterday accepted a five-day humanitarian ceasefire proposed by its adversary Saudi Arabia but said it would respond to any violations of the truce.

Saudi Arabia had said on Friday the ceasefire could begin tomorrow if the Iranian-allied militia agreed to the truce, to let in vital food and medical supplies.

Backed by the United States, a Saudi-led coalition has been conducting air strikes against the Houthis and army units loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26 with the aim of restoring the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

“We will deal positively with any efforts, calls or serious and positive measures that would help lift the suffering and allow aid, supplies and ships to move safely to Yemen,” the Houthis said in a statement carried by state media Saba.

Col. Sharaf Luqman, spokesperson for the Houthi-allied army, said yesterdayYemeni forces agreed to the truce but would confront any attacks by Hadi loyalists.

The Houthis say their campaign is aimed at defeating al Qaeda militants based in Yemen and accuse Hadi’s forces of supporting the group.

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