The Saudi-led Arab coalition said Tuesday it will halt fighting in Yemen during inter-Yemeni talks in Riyadh that begin Wednesday, the Saudi news agency SPA reported this, citing a statement from the alliance.
"The coalition's joint command announces a halt to all military operations inside Yemen as of 06:00 Wednesday to ensure the success of the consultations in Riyadh and to create a favorable atmosphere for peacemaking during the holy month of Ramadan," the statement said. - "We will adhere to the ceasefire and take all measures to enforce it."
The alliance's decision comes in response to a call from Naif Falah Mubarak al-Hajraf, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), for all parties to the conflict in Yemen to suspend hostilities during inter-Yemeni consultations to be held in Riyadh from March 30 to April 7. Earlier, he invited the leadership of the Ansar Allah (Houthis) rebel movement, which holds the capital Sanaa and has been waging an armed struggle against the coalition for seven years, to come to meetings in the Saudi capital. The rebels, who generally expressed their willingness to hold a dialogue, demanded that it take place on neutral territory.
Negotiations under the auspices of the GCC were originally planned from March 29 to April 7. Six tracks, including military and political, were proposed for discussion "to open humanitarian corridors and achieve stability." Invitations were sent to all parties, but the Houthis and a number of other delegates have not yet arrived in Riyadh.
In Yemen, the standoff between government forces and rebel militia of the Houthis has been ongoing since August 2014. It reached its most active phase when the Saudi-led coalition invaded the country in March 2015. The conflict led to the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. According to the UN, more than 24 million Yemenis (approximately 80% of the population) are in need of humanitarian assistance, and the number of internally displaced persons exceeds 4 million.
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Based on materials from TASS