Kerry: Yemen ceasefire is likely within weeks

US Secretary of State John Kerry hinted during his trip to Saudi Arabia yesterday that a ceasefire in Yemen could be implemented within the next two weeks.

In a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel Al-Jubeir, Kerry stated that if the United States works with Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, a pause in fighting would be possible. This would be the eighth ceasefire to be implemented since the Saudi-led coalition began its operation in Yemen in March last year.

“The failure to achieve a lasting cessation of hostilities is disturbing to all of us,” Kerry said. Yemen has been locked in a bitter battle between Houthi rebels allied with forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh against government forces led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, along with local tribes and resistance forces backed by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition.

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed as a result of the conflict with millions more displaced.