Friday, May 8, 2015

Saudi Arabia Offers Five-Day Truce in Yemen

Saudi Arabia today announced plans to implement a halt to airstrikes in Yemen for a five-day period, starting at 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The move is intended to allow humanitarian aid reaching the country best by intense fighting and airstrikes for weeks.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the halt in Saudi airstrikes will take place only if there is a commitment by the Huthi (Ansar Allah) insurgents to abide by the ceasefire. Al-Jubeir added the ceasefire could be extended beyond five days if necessary. He said during the five-day period, the insurgents should uphold the ceasefire and refrain from any movement of heavy artillery and troops.

“The ceasefire will end should the Houthis or their allies not live up to agreement,” al-Jubair said. (The Wall Street Journal, 8 May)

Al-Jubair made the announcement at a joint press conference in Paris wit U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who has been pushing for a halt to military action to relieve the humanitarian disaster taking place in the country.

Huthi reaction to Saudi initiative was not known yet.

Photo credit: A Huthi fighter during a demonstration against Saudi airstrikes in Sanaa; 8 May 2015 (Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

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