Saudi Arabia is offering a five-day ceasefire in Yemen, so that emergency aid can be brought in. Continued fighting, and Saudi-led air strikes, have
Saudi Arabia is offering a five-day ceasefire in Yemen, so that emergency aid can be brought in.
Continued fighting, and Saudi-led air strikes, have stoked concerns about the country’s humanitarian situation.
The truce will start on Tuesday, if Shiite Houthi militia agree to it.
“This is I believe a chance for the Houthis to show they care about their people,” said Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Foreign Minister.
“We hope they take up this offer for the good of Yemen and the people of Yemen.”
The truce offer comes days after Houthis shelled Saudi border towns, prompting renewed air strikes.
“A humanitarian catastrophe is building and they’re running out of food, they’re running out of medicine, they’re running out of fuel and clearly it is an important moment,” said John Kerry, US Secretary of State, appearing alongside al-Jubeir in Paris.
Iran is widely seen as the main supporter of the Houthis.
Saudi Arabia, which continued to strike the militia from the air on Friday, views their advance across Yemen as a security threat.
The Houthis still enjoy support in the capital Sanaa, but Riyadh wants to see President Hadi back in power.
In Iran, protesters have taken to the streets to condemn the airstrikes.
Tehran has repeatedly called for an end to the bombings, urging dialogue between the Yemeni government and Houthis.