Yemeni Houthis Ready to Turn in Heavy Weaponry Amid Ceasefire

Yemeni Houthi rebels are ready to lay down heavy weaponry used in the conflict against the government forces, a spokesman for Houthis said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In March, the parties to the Yemeni conflict agreed to a ceasefire that came into effect at midnight on April 10. The conflicting sides also agreed to start peace talks in Kuwait on April 18.

Abed Alsalam told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Houthis were ready to respect the ceasefire regime in the country and to "turn in high-caliber weapons" to the government.

He added that the rebels had informed the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about their intentions concerning heavy weapons.

Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Houthi rebels. The rebels are supported by army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

A Saudi-led coalition of mostly Gulf Arab states has been carrying out airstrikes against Houthi positions since March 2015 at Hadi's request.