Cairo: Saudi Arabia has welcomed the extension of an UN-brokered truce in Yemen and urged Iran-aligned rebels to open humanitarian aid corridors in a long-besieged province.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry hailed UN envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg’s efforts to consolidate commitment to the truce, which has been renewed for the third time.
Grundberg announced Tuesday that the parties concerned agreed to extend the truce for an additional two months, from 2 August 2022 until 2 October 2022.
The truce extension includes a commitment from the parties to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible, the envoy said.
“The truce primarily aims to establish a lasting and comprehensive ceasefire in Yemen and initiate a political process between the Yemeni government and Al Houthis [rebels],” the Saudi Foreign Ministry added in a statement.
The ministry urged the Al Houthi militia to commit to terms of the truce and expedite the opening of passages in Taiz in southwestern Yemen to ease the suffering of people there. The truce first took effect in April and was renewed in June.
Yemen has been gripped by a devastating war of more than seven years triggered by Al Houthis, who unseated the internationally recognised government and overran several areas in the country, including the capital Sana’a.
