Late on Tuesday, the renewal of a UN-mediated truce between Yemen’s warring parties for an additional two months was agreed upon, the UN envoy’s office announced.
Urging all parties to strive for lasting peace in the war-torn country, a press statement by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg hailed the achievement.
Grundberg stated, “In the coming weeks, I will intensify my engagements with the parties to ensure the full implementation of all the parties’ obligations in the truce. This should include the implementation of the full number and regularity of flights between the agreed destinations and Sana’a International Airport and the number of fuel ships entering Hudaydah port, as stipulated in the truce agreement.”
“It is also important to make progress on opening roads in Taiz and other governorates to facilitate the freedom of movement of millions of Yemeni women, men and children, and of goods,” he added.
The warring sides welcomed the extension of the truce. The announcement of the truce extension was also welcomed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Twitter, who expressed that this “brings respite from conflict to millions and saves lives — the longest period of calm since the war began.”
All military operations were halted under the ceasefire, which was first reached on April 2. The operation of commercial flights from rebel-held Sana’a Airport in the Yemeni capital is also allowed by the agreement.
Since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including Sana’a, Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability.
Despite a military campaign conducted by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies since 2015 aimed at ousting them and restoring the Yemeni government, the Houthis remain in control of the capital as well as wide swathes of territory.
