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.