Houthis Accept Saudi Offer of Five-Day Truce in Yemen

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

Neighboring Saudi Arabia had said on Friday that the ceasefire could begin on Tuesday if the Iranian-allied militia agreed to the pause, which would let in badly needed 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.

Colonel Sharaf Luqman, spokesperson for the Houthi-allied army, said on Sunday Yemeni forces had agreed to the truce but would confront any attacks by Hadi loyalists on battlefronts which stretch across much of the impoverished country.

 

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/houthis-accept-saudi-offer-5-day-truce-yemen-n356706