The United Nations announced on Tuesday (2) the renewal of the truce between the Yemeni government and Iranian-backed rebels, on the last day of the ceasefire agreed in April.
According to the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, the extension of the truce includes a commitment by the parties to intensify negotiations towards an end to the war.
The conflict, despite being between government and rebels, is seen as an indirect war by Saudi Arabia against Iran. Riyadh leads the coalition of countries in the region. The group receives logistical and intelligence support from the United States.
Even for this reason, American officials participated in the negotiations for the truce announced on Tuesday. On a visit to Saudi Arabia last month, US President Joe Biden welcomed the UN-mediated halt to the attacks.
On Tuesday, the Democrat said in a statement that the truce “has brought an unprecedented period of calm to Yemen, saving thousands of lives and bringing tangible relief to countless Yemenis”. “.
In the message, the American thanked the Saudi prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for confirming “full commitment to prolonging the truce”. Biden also highlighted the role of the Omani authorities in the negotiations. Iran, the US geopolitical rival, is not named in the statement.
Since taking over the White House, the Democrat has been pressing Riyadh to end the war in Yemen. He went so far, for example, to suspend support for the coalition’s offensive operations and to revoke the terrorist designation that the Trump administration had imposed on the Houthis – the rebel group’s name.
Earlier, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby urged “the Yemeni parties to take this opportunity to work constructively under the auspices of the UN and reach an agreement that paves the way for a lasting resolution of the conflict.” .
Despite the relief brought by Tuesday’s ceasefire, the UN wanted the two sides to extend the truce for another six months. Such an agreement would mean the longest period of relative calm in the country in more than seven years.
An extended ceasefire, according to the UN, would allow the payment of civil service salaries, the opening of roads, expanded flights from Sanaa (the Yemeni capital) and regular flow of fuel to the port city of Hodeidah. These are key points in discussions between government and rebels.
The two parties even continue to attack each other verbally and criticized the truce signed by themselves.
The conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis, a militant group from northern Yemen that had fought several wars against the central government, took control of Sanaa. A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened the following year, aiming to defeat the Houthis and restore the country’s deposed president.
Since then, Yemen’s economy and basic services have collapsed. The UN estimates that 24.1 million people in 2021 were at risk of starvation and disease. In all, 14 million were in urgent need of assistance. The conflict has already left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced.
Professor Elham Abdullah told Reuters news agency he hoped the truce would improve his standard of living. He lives in Aden, where the government is based after being ousted from Sanaa by the Houthis.
University student Tah Abdul-Kareem said more is needed. Still, the truce announced on Tuesday “is better than a return to war”, he points out.
