Saudi-led coalition in Yemen extends unilateral truce by one month
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels in Yemen has announced it's extending a cease-fire another month to allow for UN-brokered negotiations as well as efforts to control the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels announced Friday it was extending a unilateral cease-fire by another month as part of efforts to rein in the war-torn country’s COVID-19 outbreak.
Citing coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported the cease-fire, which began Thursday, would allow for UN-brokered negotiations between the two parties.
“The chance is still there for concerted efforts to reach a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire in Yemen,” al-Maliki said.
On Thursday, a two-week cease-fire declared by the coalition earlier this month expired with no permanent deal in place. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been calling on both parties to negotiate a long-term agreement to end the fighting, especially in light of the pandemic.
