Houthis agree to Yemen cease-fire, urges return to UN talks

Yemen’s Shia Houthi group has agreed to a Saudi-proposed humanitarian cease-fire in Yemen and called for resuming the political dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations.

In a statement, the Houthi group expressed willingness to “deal positively” with any efforts that would alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.

The Houthi statement was the first response to the five-day “humanitarian truce” proposed by the Saudi-led coalition, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

“We stress on the need to resume dialogue from the point it stopped when the [Saudi-led] aggression began, provided that it is held under the auspices of the UN,” the group’s political bureau said in a statement broadcasted by the pro-Houthi Al-Masirah TV.

“We also call for the immediate lift of the unjust [coalition] blockade, and we’re ready to deal positively with any efforts that would alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people,” the group said, in an implicit nod of acceptance to the truce proposed by the coalition.

On Friday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and US Secretary of State John Kerry unveiled a proposed five-day humanitarian truce in Yemen, noting that the truce could start as of Tuesday.

The truce makes it, however, necessary for the Houthis to abide by a cease-fire in all Yemeni provinces.